A teenager from the Fraser Valley region in British Columbia has tested presumptive positive for the H5 influenza virus, the first detection of avian influenza due to the H5 virus in a person in Canada.
The patient is currently receiving care at the B.C. Children’s Hospital while officials work to confirm the diagnosis and trace potential sources of exposure.
“This is a rare event,” British Columbia Health Officer Bonnie Henry said in a statement. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to fully understand the source of exposure here in B.C.”
Bird flu has infected nearly 450 dairy farms in 15 U.S. states since March, and the CDC has identified 46 human cases of bird flu since April (mostly in California, Washington, and Colorado). In Canada, British Columbia has identified at least 22 infected poultry farms since October, and numerous wild birds tested positive, according to the province.
Canada currently has had no cases reported in dairy cattle and no evidence of bird flu in samples of milk.
Prevention measures
To protect yourself against avian influenza, Canada’s public health officials recommend you stay up to date on all immunizations (especially the seasonal flu vaccine), do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings, keep your pets away from sick or dead animals (and their feces), and do not bring sick wild animals into your home.