Canadian teen in critical condition with suspected bird flu; source of exposure is unknown
CNNNOV 24 2024
BC Human Bird Flu Case Remains a Mystery
Image copyright: Matthew Hatcher/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
A teenager from British Columbia, who in early November became the first confirmed domestically acquired human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Canada, remains in critical but stable condition at BC Children's Hospital.
Health officials still don't know how the teen, who hails from the Fraser Health Region — which includes numerous eastern and southern suburbs of Vancouver in addition to the Fraser Valley — became infected. The province Tuesday announced it has closed its probe.
An investigation determined the viral strain of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, matches that which was found in wild birds in the Fraser Valley area in October, with no direct connection to poultry farm outbreaks.
The Spin
Narrative A
The extensive public health investigation has been thorough and comprehensive, involving multiple agencies and testing protocols. The identified strain matches local wild bird populations, suggesting a contained incident. The risk to the general public remains extremely low, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Narrative B
The inability to identify the infection source raises serious concerns about Canada's disease surveillance and detection capabilities. With 54 active outbreaks affecting millions of birds in BC alone, and the virus appearing in cattle, the threat of additional human cases cannot be dismissed.
Metaculus Prediction
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