A test tube labeled 'Bird Flu' is seen in front of a US flag in an illustration taken on June 10, 2024. – Reuters
A teenager in British Columbia has become the first person in Canada to test positive for bird flu, according to authorities. The individual is receiving treatment at a children's hospital for H5 avian flu, as stated by the provincial health department. The source of the infection and any potential contacts are currently under investigation. Officials believe the infection likely originated from a bird or animal.
'This is a rare event,' said British Columbia Health Officer Bonnie Henry. 'We are conducting a thorough investigation to fully understand the source of exposure here in B.C.' Bird flu is most commonly found in wild birds and poultry, but has recently been detected in mammals, with an outbreak in cattle reported across the United States this year. It can occasionally infect humans through close contact or contaminated environments. Scientists have expressed concern over the increasing number of mammals infected by bird flu, even though cases in humans remain rare. They fear that a high rate of transmission could lead to a mutation of the virus, potentially enabling it to be passed from one human to another.
In September, officials reported that a person in Missouri became the first in the United States to test positive for bird flu without a known exposure to infected animals. All previous bird flu cases in the United States have involved farmworkers, including the very first case in 2022. In the decades since H5 has been found in humans, there have been rare instances where an animal source could not be identified. However, there has not yet been evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, which would significantly elevate the threat level.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
