A Canadian teen is hospitalized in vital situation with what’s believed to be chicken flu, a British Columbia well being official mentioned Tuesday.
It is not clear how {the teenager} picked up the virus, which has been detected lately in wild birds and poultry within the province, mentioned Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial well being officer. The teenager shouldn’t be identified to have any contact with contaminated animals, she mentioned.
Officers have launched few particulars concerning the affected person. Henry mentioned the teenager was wholesome earlier than creating signs greater than per week in the past — initially eye redness, cough and fever — and has been hospitalized with a respiratory sickness since Friday in Vancouver.
Preliminary testing indicated the an infection is from chicken flu. Officers imagine it’s the Sort A H5N1 chicken flu, however are awaiting affirmation. H5N1 has been spreading extensively within the U.S. amongst wild birds, poultry, cows and numerous different animals.
In Canada, testing has been finished on about three dozen individuals who have been in touch with the teenager. None of them have proof of an infection, Henry mentioned.
Officers try to determine how the teenager was contaminated, though Henry mentioned that will by no means be decided. In British Columbia, the virus has been detected in poultry, wild birds and a few small animals, principally when birds are migrating by the world.
The Canadian case was within the Fraser Valley space in southern British Columbia.
Up to now this yr, at the least 46 folks within the U.S. — principally farmworkers — have examined optimistic with principally delicate signs.
In accordance with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, 21 of these sufferers have been in California, 11 in Washington, 10 in Colorado, two in Michigan and one every in Missouri and Texas.
The supply of the illness was traced to both cattle or poultry in all however one of many U.S. instances. The supply within the lone Missouri case was unknown, the CDC mentioned.