What to know about avian flu after B.C. case, from transmission to symptoms – CTV
Nov. 12, 2024
A B.C. teen has a suspected case of H5N1 avian flu — the first known human to acquire the virus in Canada.
The provincial government said on the weekend that B.C.’s chief veterinarian and public health teams are still investigating the source of exposure, but that it’s “very likely” an animal or bird.
Human-to-human transmission is very rare, but as cases among animals rise, many experts are worried the virus could develop that ability.
The teen was being treated at BC Children’s Hospital on Saturday. The provincial health officer said there were no updates on the patient Monday.
“I’m very concerned, obviously, for the young person who was infected,” said Dr. Matthew Miller, director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.
