OTTAWA, Ontario — Health officials announced on Wednesday that a teenager in British Columbia has been confirmed as having contracted bird flu, with the virus closely linked to an ongoing outbreak affecting poultry in the area.
Preliminary tests indicated that the teen’s illness was indeed due to bird flu, a finding that was later validated through further testing, according to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Since Friday, the teenager has been receiving treatment in a Vancouver hospital and was reported to be in critical condition as of Tuesday.
The method of transmission remains unclear. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, noted on Tuesday that the teen did not have any known contact with infected animals. Reports indicate the teen was in good health prior to exhibiting symptoms over a week ago, which initially included eye redness, cough, and fever.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been on the rise in the United States, affecting wild birds, poultry, and several other animal species, including cows. So far this year, 46 individuals, primarily those working on farms, have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., most of whom experienced mild symptoms.
In Canada, health officials conducted tests on around three dozen individuals who had been in close contact with the teenager, and all results came back negative for the virus, as reported by Henry.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the teenager’s infection, although Dr. Henry stated that it is possible the exact cause may never be identified. In British Columbia, bird flu has been found in poultry, wild birds, and a few small mammals, but there have been no reports of the virus in dairy cows across the province.