Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Lab confirms Canada's first case of avian flu infection in humans in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Nov, 2024 04:39 PM
  • Lab confirms Canada's first case of avian flu infection in humans in B.C.

Canada's Public Health Agency has confirmed that a British Columbia teenager hospitalized last Friday is the country's first ever human case of domestically acquired avian flu.

The agency said in a statement Wednesday that testing at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirms the teen did contract the H5N1 avian flu, the same strain related to viruses found in B.C. flocks in an ongoing outbreak at poultry farms.

The teenage patient was said to be in critical condition on Tuesday after being admitted days before to B.C. Children's Hospital, and a spokesman from the office of B.C.'s provincial health officer said Wednesday that they are not aware of any change to that status.

"Our heart goes out to the teenager who is sick," Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"It's just a reminder that H5N1 can cause a range of illnesses all the way from asymptomatic to severe outcomes, and that we need to take this virus seriously, even if it's a sort of zoonotic transmission from animal to human because it can cause a severe outcome in the individual who's infected," Tam said. 

The public health agency said it was notified by B.C. health authorities on Saturday that the teenager tested presumptive positive for the avian flu, and Tam said field epidemiologists are looking at potential sources for the teen's exposure. 

The investigation "could take some time," she said, because they haven't been able to directly ask the teenager about where they might have become infected.

"We are unable to speak to the patient because the patient is quite sick," Tam said. "And so, I think some of the information is necessarily second-hand from the family members.

"The good news is up to now, none of the close contacts like family members have tested positive.”

A statement from the agency added that Canadians "must remain vigilant" in the fight to prevent the spread of avian flu between animals and humans.

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at the news conference Tuesday that the teen, who is from the Fraser Health region, was "experiencing acute respiratory distress" while at B.C. Children's Hospital.

The teen did not have any pre-existing conditions that would explain the severity of the illness, and Henry said the patient did not live on a farm or have contact with commercial poultry flocks. The source of the infection may never be found, she said. 

There was one previous case of avian flu in humans in Canada in 2014 in Alberta. The infected person eventually died. Health officials determined in that case that the victim likely contracted the virus while travelling in China.

B.C.'s commercial poultry sector has been damaged by avian flu outbreaks in recent years, with about 6.4 million birds in domestic flocks having been culled since the spring of 2022.

Most of the outbreaks reported in the last few months in B.C. have been in the Fraser Valley, located within the Fraser Health region.

MORE National ARTICLES

Tributes to John Horgan as B.C. New Democrat members are sworn in

Tributes to John Horgan as B.C. New Democrat members are sworn in
Former British Columbia premier John Horgan loomed large over the swearing-in ceremony Wednesday for 47 New Democrat members of the legislature, a day after his death. Dick said Horgan was a "friend of the people," while Legislature Clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd paid tribute to Horgan for his service to the people of B.C.

Tributes to John Horgan as B.C. New Democrat members are sworn in

Build vaccine stockpile, use wastewater testing for H5N1 bird flu, experts urge

Build vaccine stockpile, use wastewater testing for H5N1 bird flu, experts urge
Health Canada has authorized three influenza vaccines that could be used if bird flu became a pandemic, the agency says.  The federal government also has an agreement with vaccine manufacturer GSK for domestic vaccine production that could be accelerated if needed, the Public Health Agency of Canada told The Canadian Press in an email. 

Build vaccine stockpile, use wastewater testing for H5N1 bird flu, experts urge

Vancouver officer sexually assaulted colleague, but police group chat targeted victim

Vancouver officer sexually assaulted colleague, but police group chat targeted victim
The decision against Narinder Dosanjh, obtained by The Canadian Press, includes the running commentary on the woman's testimony — apparently written by someone inside the courtroom — that calls her a "bad drunk" and says there was "no way" her case would be proved.

Vancouver officer sexually assaulted colleague, but police group chat targeted victim

'Pacific frontal system' moving over B.C. prompts snow, rainfall warnings

'Pacific frontal system' moving over B.C. prompts snow, rainfall warnings
Environment Canada is warning drivers who intend to travel Highway 3 from the Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass about hazardous conditions due to "rapidly accumulating snow." It says a Pacific frontal system will bring up to 50 centimetres of snow before Thursday night.

'Pacific frontal system' moving over B.C. prompts snow, rainfall warnings

Prime Minister Trudeau makes trip to Bermuda to eulogize longtime family friend

Prime Minister Trudeau makes trip to Bermuda to eulogize longtime family friend
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is travelling to Bermuda today to give a eulogy at the funeral for businessman Peter Green. Green was a lifelong family friend to Trudeau and, as reported by the National Post, his family owns a luxury estate in Jamaica where Trudeau has stayed at no cost.

Prime Minister Trudeau makes trip to Bermuda to eulogize longtime family friend

Chrystia Freeland says carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free

Chrystia Freeland says carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the Canada carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free. In a statement posted to X late Tuesday, Freeland clarified the parameters of the program after an advocacy group for small business raised concerns that the rebate would be a taxable benefit.

Chrystia Freeland says carbon rebate for small businesses will be tax-free

PrevNext