Canada's First Avian Flu Human Case Sparks Concern

A teenager in British Columbia is critically ill with the first presumptive human case of avian influenza in Canada. Health authorities suspect H5N1, which poses a low human risk, but public health officials continue to investigate. No farm exposure was reported, and no human transmission has been detected.

In a concerning development, a teenager is critically ill in a British Columbia hospital with Canada's first presumptive case of avian flu. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday that the teenager had been healthy until now and highlighted the virus's potential severity.

Health officials in British Columbia detected the human case of H5 bird flu in a teenager and are working to confirm the exact strain, believed to be H5N1. Although WHO states the risk to humans is low, the virus has been found in various animals, including U.S. livestock.

Despite no evident human transmission, heightened precaution is advised. The teenager had symptoms like fever and coughing but no farm exposure. Health experts stress that a lack of human-to-human spread could prevent a pandemic, pending ongoing investigations.

(With inputs from agencies.)