Teenager Hospitalized with Rare Case of Bird Flu in Canada

A teenager has been hospitalized and is currently in critical condition after contracting bird flu, marking the first known instance of the virus being transmitted to a human in Canada, according to officials who spoke on Tuesday. Health authorities in British Columbia are diligently investigating how this young individual became infected, particularly since there are no known connections to poultry farms, which are the typical sites where bird flu is detected in the country.

The virus in question, known as H5N1, poses a low risk to the general public, health officials have indicated, primarily because it does not transmit easily between humans. However, prolonged outbreaks—such as the recent cluster observed in U.S. dairy cattle—can heighten the potential for the virus to mutate and spread more widely.

In the United States, there have been 46 recorded cases of individuals contracting the virus, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with nearly all cases involving farm workers. Fortunately, most of these cases have been mild in nature.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s health officer, reported during a news conference on Tuesday that approximately 36 individuals who had contact with the affected teenager have tested negative for the virus and were offered a preventative regimen of antiviral medication. Additionally, tests conducted on pets in the vicinity also returned negative results.

While bird flu, or avian influenza, has not yet been reported on Canadian dairy farms, officials have confirmed that at least two dozen poultry farms have identified the virus since October 2024. As a result, health officials are meticulously working to trace the source of the viral exposure in British Columbia.

Dr. Henry noted, “There is a very real possibility that we may not ever determine the source, but at this point, we have several leads that we’re actively pursuing. We are committed to tracking down everyone involved because this is such a rare occurrence.”

Details regarding the teenager’s age or gender have not been disclosed; however, it has been confirmed that the individual is receiving treatment at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after being admitted on Friday. Prior to admission, the teenager visited an emergency room about a week earlier, presenting with respiratory symptoms, which included pink eye, fever, and a cough. At that time, the teenager was sent home and did not attend school before being admitted to the hospital.

Historically, there has been only one other case of bird flu affecting a Canadian citizen, which occurred in 2014. Experts believe that individual contracted the virus during a trip to China, where H5N1 was first identified nearly two decades ago. Tragically, that Canadian later succumbed to the illness.

In light of this situation, British Columbia has issued warnings to the public, advising against handling dead birds or allowing pets to come into contact with them. Poultry farmers have also been urged to exercise caution.

• Dr. Brian Ward, a professor at McGill University in Montreal who specializes in infectious diseases, cautioned: “People who are raising ducks, chickens, and other domestic fowl are advised to keep their flocks indoors, as these birds are currently spreading avian flu viruses throughout North America.”