A teenager in British Columbia is in critical condition with a confirmed case of avian flu, marking Canada’s first known case of human infection acquired locally.
Health officials reported Tuesday that the teen, who initially presented with common respiratory symptoms, is now battling severe respiratory distress at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, described the teen as previously healthy, having first sought medical attention on November 2 for symptoms of pink eye, fever, and cough. After being sent home, the teen’s condition worsened, leading to their hospital admission on November 8, where they were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Privacy considerations prevent the disclosure of the patient’s age or gender.
“This was a healthy teenager prior to this, so no underlying conditions… In young people, this virus can progress quickly, causing severe illness. The deterioration in this case was rapid,” Dr. Henry stated in a press briefing.
Initial tests indicated avian flu, and the teen began antiviral treatment with Tamiflu, although Dr. Henry cautioned that the drug’s efficacy decreases as symptoms become more severe. Confirmation of the diagnosis is underway at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
While officials continue to investigate the source of exposure, Dr. Henry noted that the teen had interacted with pets—including dogs, cats, and reptiles—but had no known contact with birds or poultry farms. The exposure likely came from an environmental source, she said, although determining the exact origin may prove difficult.
Health authorities have tested approximately three dozen individuals who had contact with the teen, all of whom have so far tested negative for the H5 avian flu virus. Those in close contact with the patient have also been given preventive courses of Tamiflu.
Dr. Henry emphasized that no evidence currently suggests the virus is transmissible between humans.
“We don’t see right now that there’s a risk of widespread transmission in the community,” she assured.
While human cases of H5N1 are rare, the virus has been detected in an increasing number of animals worldwide. Recent reports have found the virus in US dairy cows and even in a pig in Oregon, raising concerns due to the potential for pigs to mix genetic material from human and avian flu viruses, creating strains that could spread more easily among humans.
Health experts, including Dr. Henry, remain vigilant but underscore that the virus’s current risk to humans remains low. Since its identification in 1996, H5N1 has predominantly infected wild birds and poultry, with human infections generally resulting from direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
Dr. Brian Conway, an infectious disease specialist, pointed out that although human infections are rare, symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, may lead to pneumonia or organ failure. Canada previously reported a fatal case of H5N1 in 2014 involving a traveler from China.
“Avian influenza’s pandemic potential is real, but the risk remains low for the general population,” Dr. Conway stated.
He noted that similar viruses have affected farmworkers exposed to infected animals.
As of November 10, British Columbia has been dealing with outbreaks of avian flu among its commercial poultry operations, with over 6.4 million birds impacted across 23 sites. However, the teen had no ties to poultry farms, according to Dr. Henry, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the virus’s transmission.
With input from the Washington Post, the Guardian, and CBC News.
