Bird Flu Hits Canada: First Human Case Confirmed in British Columbia

MONTREAL (November 9, 2024) – A teenager in British Columbia has become the first person in Canada to test positive for bird flu, health authorities confirmed on Saturday. The individual is currently receiving treatment at a children’s hospital for the H5 strain of avian flu, according to the provincial health department.

The source of the infection is still under investigation, with officials suggesting that it likely originated from contact with a bird or other animal. The teenager’s possible contacts are also being traced as part of the ongoing investigation.

“This is a rare event,” said British Columbia’s Health Officer Bonnie Henry. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to fully understand the source of exposure here in B.C.”

Bird flu, which is most commonly found in wild birds and poultry, has been increasingly detected in mammals, including a recent outbreak in cattle across the U.S. While human cases remain rare, bird flu can occasionally infect people through close contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.

Health experts are concerned about the growing number of mammal infections, as it could increase the risk of the virus mutating into a form that can spread between humans. While there has been no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission so far, this remains a key area of monitoring.

In September, a case was reported in Missouri, USA, where a person tested positive for bird flu without a known exposure to infected animals. This was the first such case in the United States, following previous cases that were typically linked to farmworkers handling infected poultry.

Despite concerns over the virus’s spread in animals, health officials stress that the risk to humans remains low at this time. However, the situation continues to be closely monitored.