A teenager in BC has tested presumptive positive for avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu. This is the first detection of a presumed human case of the virus in Canada.
The Ministry of Health announced that the teen tested positive for the H5 influenza virus at the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Public Health Laboratory. The samples have been sent for confirmatory testing in the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
According to the BCCDC, the symptoms of people infected with avian influenza can range from mild to severe, including conjunctivitis, fever, muscle aches, and respiratory illness.
The first (presumed) human case of H5 avian influenza acquired in Canada has been reported in British Columbia.
Details remain limited, with hopes for the individual’s full and swift recovery.
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A public health investigation is underway to determine where the individual may have been exposed to the virus and who they may have been in contact with since then.
Individuals who may have been exposed are being followed up to conduct assessments for symptoms and provide guidance on prevention measures.
The Ministry of Health shared that the source of exposure is “very likely to be an animal or bird.”
The investigation is being conducted by public health teams from Fraser Health, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, BC Children’s Hospital, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, the Office of the Chief Veterinarian, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and others.
The teenager who tested positive for the virus is from the Fraser Health region. They are currently receiving care at BC Children’s Hospital.
“Our thoughts are with this young person and their family during this difficult time,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer.
“This is a rare event, and while it is the first detected case of H5 in a person in BC or in Canada, there have been a small number of human cases in the US and elsewhere, which is why we are conducting a thorough investigation to fully understand the source of exposure here in BC.”