A B.C. teenager hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza is recovering, but health officials are raising concerns about the virus’s transmission potential. The teen, who became the first critically ill pediatric patient with H5n1 in North America, was no longer infectious by Nov. 29 and made significant progress by Dec. 18.
Experts say generating more data on cases like this will improve understanding and management of infections. However, Dr. Isaac Bogoch emphasizes that preventing cases is key. The case highlights the need for vigilance, particularly when there’s no obvious source of infection, which is a growing concern in Canada with two documented H5n1 cases without an apparent origin.
Bogoch warns that if the virus adapts and mutates to be more transmissible among humans, it could have severe consequences. He stresses the importance of avoiding contact with wild animals, especially birds, and ensuring no spill-over events occur to humans. By focusing on prevention, health officials aim to keep the virus from adapting and becoming a greater threat.
Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/10939290/avian-flu-bc-teen-human-case-report