A British Columbia (BC) teenager from the Fraser Health region who was hospitalized with a previously announced presumptive positive H5 bird flu infection is in critical condition, the province’s top health official said today.

In a media briefing broadcast live on Canada’s Global News, Bonnie Henry, MD, BC’s health officer, shared the latest study results, noting that the patient’s symptoms began on November 2 and that he or she was admitted to a hospital emergency room that day. hospital was seen. She said the first symptoms were conjunctivitis, fever and cough.

After symptoms worsened, the patient was admitted to BC Children’s Hospital on the evening of November 8. Henry said the patient, who has no underlying health conditions, is experiencing acute respiratory distress and has been given intravenous antiviral treatment. She added that the patient was tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses as part of routine disease surveillance.

Although people infected with the H5 bird flu in the United States in recent months have had mild symptoms, Henry said health officials are concerned that the disease could be more severe in younger people. She noted that early scientific findings suggest that adults exposed to previous H1N1 seasonal flu viruses may have some partial protection against the current H5 strain.

About 36 people have tested so far

Henry said the investigation involves painstaking and challenging work, and she commended the patient’s family for their help at a time when they are struggling with a loved one’s critical illness. However, she warned that there is a chance that investigators will not be able to determine how the teen contracted the virus.

To date, no other infections have been reported among the patient’s contacts. Henry said about 36 people have been tested and the patient had not been at school during the infectious period. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) has been offered to contacts for prophylactic (preventive) use.

Investigators are still working to determine how the patient was exposed to the virus, she said, reiterating that exposure to animals is likely, although an environmental source is also possible.

Research into exposure to other animals and virus characteristics

Although about 25 outbreaks of bird flu have recently been reported in poultry in British Columbia, the case has no connection to an affected farm or to poultry. He or she was exposed to pets and pets in other homes, including dogs, cats and reptiles, Henry said.

One dog was sick, but tests came back negative, she said, adding that possible animal sources are still being investigated.

Confirmatory testing is still underway at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Henry said scientists will work to further characterize the virus, including determining its neuraminidase (the “N” part of the virus name), clade and genotype. Henry also added that wastewater monitoring has been conducted in BC, although the method cannot determine whether the source is from an animal or human.