In a mass notice to school districts in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Health confirmed the positive human case of avian flu is not in the 91原创 School District.
According to asent to 91原创 superintendent Mal Gill, "there is no known exposure at any school" within 91原创 and that "there have been no further cases identified at this time."
On Saturday, Nov. 9, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a B.C. teen has a suspected case of H5N1 avian flu 鈥� the first known human case acquired within Canada.
The provincial government said on the weekend that B.C.鈥檚 chief veterinarian and public health teams are still investigating the source of exposure, but that it鈥檚 鈥渧ery likely鈥� an animal or bird.
Human-to-human transmission is very rare, but as cases among animals rise, many experts are worried the virus could develop that ability.
The teen was being treated at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, but is now in critical condition.
Henry said there has been no link to any of the affected poultry farms in B.C. that have infected flocks.
Henry said the initial symptoms started with conjunctivitis 鈥� an infection in the eyes 鈥� along with a fever and cough.
"Those are really the hallmarks that's very difficult early on to determine if that is from influenza, from COVID, from other respiratory viruses."
Henry said public health teams are now looking at who, or what, the teen has been in contact with.
The letter from Fraser Health to school districts notes preventative measures people can take, including:
- stay up to date on immunizations
- petting zoos and farm visits can continue but avoid direct, physical contact with all birds (such as poultry, ducks, or other waterfowl) at this time
- do not touch sick or dead animals, or their droppings
- keep pets away from sick or dead animals, and their feces
- report dead or sick birds or animals
- For poultry or livestock, contact the
- For pets, contact your veterinarian or call the BC Animal Health Centre: 1-800-661-9903
- For wild birds, contact the B.C. Wild Bird Mortality Line: 1-866-431-2473
- For wild mammals, contact the B.C. Wildlife Health Program: 1 (250) 751-7246.
People can learn more at .
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