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First Canadian Bird Flu Case: Low Risk to Public
A teenager in British Columbia has tested positive for bird flu, but Health Canada assures the public that the risk remains low. The case is rare, and an investigation is underway to determine the source.
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Canada
HealthPublic HealthCanadaBird FluVirusHealth Risk
Health CanadaBritish Columbia’s Ministry Of HealthPublic Health Agency Of CanadaBc Centre For Disease ControlFraser Health
Mark JohnsonDr. Bonnie Henry
- What did Dr. Bonnie Henry state about the significance of this case?
- Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's health officer, stated this is a rare event, and while it is the first detected case of H5 in a person in B.C. or in Canada, there have been a small number of human cases in the U.S. and elsewhere.
- What precautions does Health Canada recommend to prevent avian influenza infections?
- As a precaution, Health Canada advises against handling live or dead wild birds, keeping pets away from sick or dead animals, and for those working with animals to take appropriate protective measures.
- What prompted the investigation into the case of avian influenza in British Columbia?
- A teenager in British Columbia tested positive for avian influenza (bird flu), prompting an investigation into the source of exposure and contact tracing. The case is rare, and samples have been sent to the national microbiology lab for further testing.
- How is avian influenza typically contracted, and how common is human-to-human transmission?
- The virus is usually contracted through close contact with infected birds or highly contaminated environments; human-to-human transmission is not common. The BC Centre for Disease Control conducted the initial positive test on the teenager.
- What is Health Canada's assessment of the risk to the general public posed by the first suspected human case of bird flu in Canada?
- Health Canada says the risk to the general public from the first suspected human case of bird flu in Canada is low. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of the virus globally.