A Canadian teenager with bird flu is in critical condition, according to health authorities who have not determined the source of exposure.
“Our thoughts continue to be with this young person in critical condition at BC Children’s Hospital and … we will be continuing to do a thorough public health investigation to determine how this came to be,” British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry, M.D., M.P.H., said in a news conference Tuesday.
On Nov. 2, the teen developed symptoms, including conjunctivitis, fever and cough. The patient went to the hospital but was sent home, only to return Nov. 8 when symptoms worsened. The teen tested positive for H5 influenza virus, and a national laboratory confirmed the diagnosis Wednesday.
The teen, who had no underlying conditions, is in critical condition after experiencing “acute respiratory distress syndrome,” according to Dr. Henry.
“It just reminds us that in young people this is a virus that can progress and cause quite severe illness, and the deterioration … was quite rapid,” she said.
The teen is the first case of locally acquired bird flu in Canada, and the source of exposure is unclear. In British Columbia, H5N1 has been detected in wild birds, on poultry farms and among small wild mammals. No cases have been found in dairy cattle or in milk samples, according to health officials. The virus found in the teen is related to the H5N1 viruses from the ongoing outbreak in poultry in British Columbia.
“It’s very likely, from everything that we’ve seen globally, that it is an exposure to an animal or bird or something in the environment which … is less likely but still something we need to investigate carefully,” Dr. Henry said.
The Canadian teen was in contact with dogs, cats and reptiles, but none have tested positive for H5. Officials are not aware of contact with farm animals, wild birds or poultry and said the teen did not cross the border into Washington where there have been 11 human cases.
Officials have tested about three dozen of the teen’s friends, family and other contacts but have not identified any additional cases.
British Columbia health officials recommend people protect themselves by staying up to date on immunizations, avoiding sick or dead animals and keeping pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.
In the U.S., there have been 46 human cases of bird flu this year. Most have been linked to exposure to cattle or poultry, but the source of one case remains unknown. Cases have been reported in California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Washington.
U.S. officials classify the risk to public health as low but continue to monitor the situation. They have been working on plans to update bird flu vaccines in the event of a pandemic. In addition to avoiding contact with sick animals, experts recommend properly cooking poultry, eggs and beef and not consuming raw or unpasteurized milk products.
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