NEW YORK (AP) — A Canadian teen is hospitalized in crucial situation with what’s believed to be hen flu, a British Columbia well being official stated Tuesday.
It’s not clear how {the teenager} picked up the virus, which has been detected just lately in wild birds and poultry within the province, stated Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial well being officer. The teenager will not be recognized to have any contact with contaminated animals, she stated.
Officers have launched few particulars concerning the affected person. Henry stated the teenager was wholesome earlier than growing signs greater than per week in the past — initially eye redness, cough and fever — and has been hospitalized with a respiratory sickness since Friday in Vancouver.
Preliminary testing indicated the an infection is from hen flu. Officers consider it’s the Sort A H5N1 hen flu however are awaiting affirmation. H5N1 has been spreading widely within the U.S. amongst wild birds, poultry, cows and plenty of different animals. This 12 months, 46 folks within the U.S. — mostly farmworkers — have examined optimistic with largely delicate signs.
In Canada, testing has been accomplished on about three dozen individuals who had been involved with the teenager. None of them have proof of an infection, Henry stated.
Officers are attempting to determine how the teenager was contaminated, though Henry stated that will by no means be decided. In British Columbia, the virus has been detected in poultry, wild birds and a few small animals, largely when birds are migrating by means of the world.
The Canadian case was within the Fraser Valley space in southern British Columbia.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
