B.C. bird flu case confirmed, Health Canada says vaccines ready

Canada’s first human case of avian influenza in a B.C. teenager has the country’s health officials on high alert.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the Richmond teen, who remains in critical condition, was infected with avian influenza. This marks the first domestically acquired case of the H5N1 virus in the country.

B.C. health officials had initially treated the case as presumptive.

Experts continue to investigate how the teen contracted the virus and are screening others who may have been in close contact.

So far, no one else has tested positive for the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu.

Health Canada also says it has authorized three influenza vaccines that could be used if bird flu became a pandemic.

The federal government also has an agreement with vaccine manufacturer GSK for domestic vaccine production that could be accelerated if needed, the Public Health Agency of Canada told The Canadian Press in an email.

There are currently no indications that the virus would spark a pandemic.

Experts say human-to-human transmission of H5N1 — a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza — is rare, with no evidence of sustained transmission.

“This is not a virus that transmits well to humans,” said Dr. Brian Conway. “It transmits even less well from one human to another, if it even transmits at all,” the infectious disease specialist added.

Conway says, while a pandemic might seem unlikely, health authorities are — and should be — ready for any scenario.

“The virus has changed. It’s mutated. It seems to infect mammals more easily than it did before.”

“At some point, it could further mutate to become more infectious to humans. But it’s not an immediate concern.”

Since 1996, Conway says around 900 people worldwide have reported contracting bird flu with varying fatality rates. Most cases, both in the U.S. and globally, have come from contact with infected birds, farm animals, or wildlife. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says there has been no known human-to-human spread.

While the risk of bird flu remains low, Conway recommends taking precautions, like avoiding contact with dead or sick animals, staying up to date on your flu shots, and checking in with your doctor if you start feeling flu-like symptoms.