What can we learn about avian flu as more details released of B.C. teen’s case?

The teen became the first critically ill pediatric patient with avian influenza in North America and information was published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

While it may never be known if the B.C. teenager hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza, H5n1, will make a full recovery — health officials say this is an opportunity to look at what we can learn moving forward.

The teen became the first critically ill pediatric patient with avian influenza in North America earlier this fall and information was published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, detailing her care.

It was determined the teen was no longer infectious on Nov. 29, moved to the pediatric ward on Dec. 4, and no longer required supplemental oxygen by Dec. 18, according to the case summary.

“What do we learn from this that we didn’t already know?” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto’s General Hospital, told Global News.

“Well, we already know it’s a potentially severe infection, which this case demonstrated. We already know that we have some antiviral drugs that can help blunt the course of infection. Okay, That’s helpful. We already know that this has epidemic and potential and worst case scenario, pandemic potential.”

Bogoch said the more data we generate that gives health officials a greater clinical experience in understanding and managing cases, the better.

However, he said the focus should be on preventing cases.

“I think the key feature of this case, though, was that there was no obvious source, which is very concerning,” Bogoch added.