A teenager in Canada is now in critical condition after contracting what is believed to be the country's first human case of the H5N1 bird flu.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's health officer, said the teenager was admitted to the BC Children's Hospital on Friday after developing "acute respiratory distress." The teen has been placed in critical care.
It was noted that the teen had a presumptive positive test for bird flu. A presumptive positive test occurs when the initial screening test detects the probable presence of a specific pathogen or if the test result is still waiting for final confirmation from a higher authority such as the CDC.
Henry did not disclose the teen's name, age, or gender for privacy reasons, according to The Washington Post.
Developing Flu-like Symptoms
Speaking to the press, Henry said the teenager went to the hospital's emergency room on November 2, displaying symptoms associated with many common respiratory illnesses that included pink eye, fever, and cough. The teen was sent home.
A week after the emergency room visit, British Columbia's Office of the Provincial Health announced that a teenager had tested presumptive positive for bird flu. It was not immediately clear what strain the teen contracted. However, officials are assuming it is a case of H5N1.
The office noted that the teen "very likely" contracted the flu after exposure to "an animal or bird." However, Henry noted in a separate press conference that the teen had not come into contact with birds but was exposed to dogs, cats, and some reptiles both in and outside their home.
Will the Bird Flu Spread Among Humans?
Health officials said they have identified and tested at least three dozen people who had contact with the teen. All tested negative for the virus.
There has not been any evidence that the disease can easily spread between people. But if it were to happen, it could lead to another pandemic, as reported by The Guardian, citing statements from scientists.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has so far confirmed 46 human cases of bird flu in the United States. This includes 21 in California, 10 in Colorado, 11 in Washington, 2 in Michigan, and 1 each in Missouri and Texas.
