Canadian Teen Critical with New H5N1; U.S. Reports 26 Human Cases, Over 500 Herds Hit

Nov 15, 2024, 12:00 PM

A Canadian teenager in British Columbia has been hospitalized in critical condition after contracting a new genotype of H5N1 bird flu, marking the first domestically acquired human case of the virus in Canada. Health officials are investigating how the teenager was exposed, as the patient had no known links to poultry farms or recent travel to affected regions, and none of the patient's contacts have tested positive. This case comes amid a rising number of H5N1 infections in dairy cattle in the United States, particularly in California, where over 500 herds have been affected and 26 human cases have been reported. Oregon has also confirmed its first human case, linked to exposure at a commercial poultry operation. Health authorities are expressing concern over the spread of H5N1 among livestock and the potential for human transmission, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring and preventive measures.