Canada Reports First Human H5N1 Case

Canada has reported its first domestically acquired human case of the H5N1 avian influenza, with a teenager in British Columbia currently in critical condition. This case, confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory, is linked to an ongoing avian flu outbreak in local poultry. Health officials are conducting contact tracing and animal testing, although the teen had no known contact with infected birds. While human infections with H5N1 are rare and typically linked to direct contact with infected animals, experts warn of the virus's potential severity, noting a historical high fatality rate. Bird flu has been detected in animals and wastewater in other regions, including Hawaii and the US mainland, but there’s no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Health Canada and provincial authorities stress the importance of avoiding contact with sick birds and maintaining vigilance to prevent the virus from spreading further to humans.