As bird flu emerges in Canada, experts urge preparedness – GLOBAL
November 13, 2024
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.
There are no indications that H5N1 bird flu would spark a pandemic, but experts urged preparedness — including increased flu surveillance, early detection and vaccine availability.
PHAC confirmed Wednesday that a B.C. teen hospitalized last week is the first person to acquire H5N1 flu in Canada. It wasn’t known how they were exposed, but the strain is related to viruses found in flocks in an outbreak at B.C. poultry farms. The teen was critically ill in hospital as of Tuesday.
