Canada has reported its first presumptive human case of H5 bird flu, identified in a teenager from British Columbia. The individual, likely infected through contact with an animal, is receiving treatment at a children’s hospital. Health authorities are currently investigating the source and monitoring potential contacts. The risk to the public is low, according to Health Minister Mark Holland.
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“This is a rare event,” stated B.C. Health Officer Bonnie Henry, emphasizing the thorough investigation underway.
H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds and has impacted poultry and dairy farms in the U.S., where 46 human cases have been reported since April. No evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found, though scientists warn that such a development could lead to a pandemic.
