Canadian teenager in critical condition after suspected bird flu

A Canadian teenager is hospitalized in critical condition with suspected bird flu, a British Columbia health official said Tuesday.

It is unclear how he contracted the virus, which has recently been detected in wild birds and poultry in the province, said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health spokeswoman. As far as is known, the teenager had no contact with infected animals, he added.

Officials did not release details about the patient. Henry said the teen was healthy before he developed symptoms more than a week ago — initially red eyes, a cough and fever — and had been hospitalized with a respiratory illness in Vancouver since Friday.

Initial tests showed it was avian flu. Officials believe it is avian influenza type A H5N1 but are awaiting confirmation. H5N1 has spread widely in the United States to wild birds, poultry, cows and various other animals. This year, 46 people in the United States – mostly farm workers – have tested positive with mostly mild symptoms.

In Canada, about three dozen people who had contact with the teenager were tested. According to Henry, none of them showed signs of infection.

Officials are trying to determine how the teen became infected, although Henry said that may never be clear. In British Columbia, the virus has been detected in poultry, wild birds and some small animals, mainly when birds migrate through the area.

The Canadian case was discovered in the Fraser Valley metropolitan area in southern British Columbia.

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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.