British Columbia Ministry of Health says first suspected human case of bird flu contracted in Canada has been detected in B.C.

A release from the provincial health officer’s office says a teenager in the Fraser Health area has tested positive for avian flu and is currently undergoing treatment at BC Children’s Hospital .

The release says the positive test was conducted by the British Columbia Center for Disease Control and the samples are on their way to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing.

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

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says this 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 reported. detected in humans in the United States and abroad.

The release said the teen’s source of exposure to the virus will most likely be from an animal or bird, while public health officials and the province’s chief veterinarian investigate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 9, 2024.