Deadly H5 Bird Flu Strikes Teenage, Rapid Progression Sound Alarm

United States: A teenager in British Columbia has been diagnosed with Canada’s first known human case of H5N1, with their condition worsening dramatically in recent days. Health authorities are working to confirm the case and trace the origin of the infection.

Details of the Case

The teen, who had no clear exposure to animals, was initially reported with mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, which escalated to fever and cough.

They were transferred to BC Children’s Hospital after their condition became critical. The case is now under investigation by local and provincial health teams.

Expert Insights

BC provincial health officer Bonnie Henry emphasized that the teen, previously healthy with no underlying conditions, shows how rapidly this virus can progress in young people.

Health officials are testing close contacts, all of whom have tested negative so far. The exact source of exposure remains unclear, but authorities suspect an animal or bird may be responsible.

H5N1 Bird Flu Update

H5N1 has been detected in wildlife and domestic birds across Canada, including several cases in BC’s bird facilities. Unlike in the US, however, the virus has not spread to dairy herds in Canada.

This year, at least 24 cases of the virus have been reported in domestic bird facilities, and in October, at least 10 contaminated sites in BC, based on the data of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The US has reported widespread cases of H5N1 in poultry, with hundreds of herds affected since March.

There have been H5N1 cases detected in 492 herds across fifteen states since March in the US state. Moreover, out of the affected herds, 278 are in California, which first detected the virus in the late days of August month.