Canadian teen hospitalized in critical condition with deadly bird flu

A Canadian teenager is hospitalized in critical condition with a case of H5N1 bird flu, according to health officials.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed in a press release that the teenager in British Columbia, hospitalized on Friday, tested positive for the deadly avian influenza.

The unidentified teen is now in critical condition and receiving treatment at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, according to the release.

Canada’s National Microbiology Lab confirmed the presumptive prognosis after testing genomic sequencing, officials said. The virus is related to the avian influenza H5N1 viruses from the ongoing outbreak in poultry in British Columbia.

Authorities still do not know how the teen contracted the disease.

“There is a very real possibility that we may not ever determine the source, but at this point, we have a number of leads that we’re following,” Dr. Bonnie Henry with the British Columbia Ministry of Health said during a press conference, according to the New York Times.

At least two dozen Canadian poultry farms have detected the virus since October, according to the release.

Meanwhile, there is an ongoing outbreak of avian influenza in US cattle, the Times reported. 

That outbreak increases the risk of avian influenza crossing the species barrier and causing infection in humans. There have been 46 cases of humans contracting avian influenza in the US in 2024, according to the CDC. Most of those cases have been mild.

Canadian health officials said there is a low risk to public health in part because the virus doesn’t easily transmit between people.

Roughly 36 people who came into contact with the infected youth tested negative for the virus, Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a news conference Tuesday.

The Canadian government is continuing its investigation which includes contact tracing, testing, and preventative antiviral medication to stem any potential cases.

Health officials say anyone who was exposed to sick or dead birds, or was in contact with a farm where avian flu was confirmed, should take extra precautions and seek medical help should symptoms arise.