B.C. teen with avian flu remains in critical care, no other cases identified
CTV
The teenager who is infected with the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza acquired in Canada remains in critical care at BC Children’s Hospital, officials said Tuesday.
The teenager who is infected with the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza acquired in Canada remains in critical care at BC Children’s Hospital, officials said Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference in Victoria, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the young person is stable, but still very sick and on a respirator.
“Our thoughts remain with them and their family, and we remain hopeful, as they have made some progress in the last few days, that they will recover from this very severe infection,” she said.
Identifying details about the patient, including exact age and gender, are not being released, but the teenager is from the Fraser Health Region, which stretches from Burnaby to Hope, and has no underlying conditions.
Over the past two weeks, public health has tested and monitored 34 health-care workers and 16 family and friends who had contact with the teenager for signs of H5N1, and all have come back negative.
“There is no evidence of transmission from this young person, and no evidence of any other cases right now in British Columbia,” Henry said.
In addition, more than 25 animals were tested and around 10 environmental samples collected during the investigation into the source of the teen’s infection, which also all came back negative.
