Canada’s first suspected human case of avian flu detected in B.C.

The British Columbia Ministry of Health says the first suspected human case of avian flu contracted in Canada has been detected in the province.

A teenager from the region covered by the Fraser Health regional public health authority has tested positive for avian flu and is currently being treated at BC Children’s Hospital, according to a statement from the Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer of British Columbia. .

The release said the positive test was conducted by the BC Center for Disease Control and samples are on their way to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing.

Public health officials are also reviewing the case to find the source of exposure and identify possible contacts.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bonnie Henry said this was a “rare event” and that only a handful of cases of bird flu, caused by the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, have been reported. been detected in humans in the United States and abroad.

The release says the source of the teen’s exposure to the virus is most likely an animal or bird, while public health officials and the province’s chief veterinarian are investigating.