Bird Flu Reaches Canada: Teenager's Case Sparks Investigation

A teenager in British Columbia, Canada, has been diagnosed with a presumptive case of H5 bird flu, marking the country's first human case. The teen is believed to have caught the virus from a bird or animal and is currently receiving care at a children’s hospital. The province is actively investigating how the teen was exposed and is tracing their contacts. H5 bird flu is common in wild birds globally and has been causing outbreaks in poultry and even US dairy cows. Recently, several human cases have been reported among US dairy and poultry workers. While there's no evidence of person-to-person spread yet, scientists warn that a pandemic could unfold if that were to happen.

In November, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised testing farm workers exposed to bird flu-infected animals, even if they don't show symptoms. The virus has affected nearly 450 dairy farms in 15 US states since March, with 46 human cases identified since April. In Canada, British Columbia has reported at least 22 infected poultry farms since October, along with numerous positive tests in wild birds. Health officials stress that the risk to the public remains low.

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