First Presumptive Case of H5 Bird Flu Detected in Canada

Ottawa, November 18, 2023 - Health officials in Canada have confirmed the country's first presumptive case of H5 bird flu in a human, involving a teenager from British Columbia. The case was reported by health authorities on Saturday, highlighting a significant development in the ongoing global bird flu situation.

The teenager, currently under treatment at a children's hospital, likely contracted the virus from direct contact with an infected bird or animal, according to a statement released by the province. Health officials are actively investigating the source of the exposure and are tracing the contacts of the infected individual.

Canada's Health Minister, Mark Holland, took to social media to assure the public that the risk remains low, describing the incident as a "rare event." Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's Provincial Health Officer, emphasized the uniqueness of the case and reassured the public that a comprehensive investigation is underway to understand the transmission dynamics.

The H5 strain of bird flu has been a global concern, notably widespread among wild birds and causing outbreaks in poultry and, more recently, in dairy cows in the United States. The U.S. has reported several human infections among dairy and poultry workers, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend testing for those exposed, even in the absence of symptoms.

Despite no evidence of person-to-person transmission to date, scientists warn that such a development could lead to a potential global health crisis.

Since October, British Columbia has identified bird flu in at least 22 poultry farms and numerous wild birds. However, there have been no reports of the virus in Canadian dairy cattle, and routine testing of milk samples has not detected the virus.

This development marks a pivotal moment for Canadian health surveillance as the country steps up its monitoring and response strategies to manage this zoonotic disease effectively.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Divya Rajagopal in Toronto
Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Chizu Nomiyama