B.C. well being officers say they’ve detected Canada’s first-ever case of H5 avian influenza in a human.
In a information launch Saturday afternoon, the workplace of the provincial well being officer mentioned a optimistic take a look at for the H5 influenza virus was carried out on the B.C. Centre for Illness Management’s public well being laboratory.
Samples are actually being despatched to the Nationwide Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, the workplace mentioned.
Pending affirmation from the nationwide laboratory, B.C. officers are referring to the state of affairs as a “presumptive case” of fowl flu.
The one that examined optimistic is a young person from B.C.’s Fraser Well being area, which stretches from Burnaby to Hope. The contaminated teen is being handled at BC Kids’s Hospital in Vancouver, in response to the assertion.
“Our ideas are with this younger particular person and their household throughout this tough time,” mentioned Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial well being officer, within the launch.
“It is a uncommon occasion, and whereas it’s the first detected case of H5 in an individual in B.C. or in Canada, there have been a small variety of human instances within the U.S. and elsewhere, which is why we’re conducting a radical investigation to totally perceive the supply of publicity right here in B.C.”
The general public well being investigation will even determine any contacts of the contaminated particular person, assess them for signs and supply steerage on testing and prevention, Henry’s workplace mentioned.
“The supply of publicity could be very prone to be an animal or fowl, and is being investigated by B.C.’s chief veterinarian and public well being groups,” the information launch reads.
Provincial officers have additionally been working with the Canadian Meals Inspection Company and “different nationwide and U.S. companions” to reply to a surge in H5N1 avian influenza on B.C. poultry farms and amongst wild birds within the province since early October, the provincial well being officer mentioned.
At the least 22 contaminated poultry amenities have been detected for the reason that begin of final month, in response to Henry’s workplace. “Quite a few” wild birds have additionally examined optimistic.
Earlier this month, a petting farm on Vancouver Island was pressured to euthanize its whole flock of chickens and geese attributable to an outbreak of the illness.
B.C. well being officers advisable a number of “prevention measures” individuals ought to take to guard themselves in opposition to avian influenza.
These steps included staying updated on immunizations – particularly the seasonal flu vaccine – conserving pets away from sick or useless animals and their feces, and reporting useless or sick birds or different animals.
“In case you have been uncovered to sick or useless birds or animals or work on a farm the place avian influenza has been detected, look ahead to signs of influenza-like sickness,” the information launch reads.
“When you get signs inside 10 days after publicity to sick or useless animals, inform your health-care supplier that you’ve got been in touch with sick animals and are involved about avian influenza. It will assist them provide you with acceptable recommendation on testing and remedy. Keep residence and away from others when you have signs.”
