First suspected human case of bird flu discovered in Canada in teenager

The first suspected case of a person infected with bird flu in Canada has been identified in British Columbia, according to the British Columbia Ministry of Health

A statement from the provincial health officer's office said a teenager in the region covered by Fraser Health has tested positive for avian influenza and is currently being treated at BC Children's Hospital.

The statement said the positive test was conducted by the BC Center for Disease Control and samples are on their way to the national microbiology laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation.

It says public health officials are also investigating the case to determine the source of exposure and identify any contacts.

The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry says it is “a rare event” and only a handful of cases of bird flu, caused by the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, have been detected in people in the United States and abroad.

The statement said the teen's exposure to the virus most likely came from an animal or bird, while public health officials and the province's chief veterinarian investigate.