With a B.C. teen in critical condition with avian flu, Fraser Health has issued a letter to the Surrey school district sharing information and safety tips for families.
Marking the first known case in B.C. and second in all of Canada, the teenager in the Fraser Health region is at B.C. Children's Hospital with the H5N1 virus. The avian flu largely affects wild aquatic birds and is commonly spread from bird to bird, but can also affect other animals.
"This is a rare event. There have been a small number of human cases in the U.S. and elsewhere. Public Health is following up with contacts who may have been exposed to assess for symptoms and provide guidance on testing and prevention measures," reads the letter, addressed to the superintendent, which was sent Wednesday (Nov. 13).
"There have been no further cases identified at this time. There is no known exposure at any school."
The letter from Fraser Health was sent out to all superintendents in the Fraser Health region, a communications representative confirmed to Peace Arch News.
How the teenager was exposed is still unknown and under investigation but is expected to be from an animal or bird. The B.C. teen's case is the first in the country known to be acquired in Canada, while the other known case was in 2014 affecting an Alberta resident who contracted it while travelling in China.
The virus is not known to be transferred from person to person at this point, Canada's Public Health Agency has shared.
"Influenza viruses are adaptable and can change when strains from humans or different animal species mix and exchange genetic information. Avian influenza could become more serious if the virus develops the ability to transmit from person to person, with potential for human-to-human transmission," the letter from Ingrid Tyler, Fraser Health's vice-president of population health and chief medical health officer, states.
In a press conference earlier this week on Tuesday (Nov. 12), provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said health officials are still working to determine how the teen contracted the virus.
"As you can imagine, this is painstaking and challenging work," she said. "Having said that, I must caution that there is a very real possibility we may not ever determine the source, but at this point we have a number of leads that we're following."
The teen was in contact with numerous animals, including dogs, cats and some reptiles, but no birds, Henry said, adding that the teen's family has been sharing as much information as possible. A dog the teen was in contact with was sick, and advanced testing has been done on the animal.
Henry said symptoms of the H5N1 flu typically start with conjunctivitis – an infection in the eyes – along with a fever and cough.
There are numerous preventative measures that Fraser Health outlines to protect oneself from contracting the virus, including staying up to date on all immunizations, in particular the seasonal flu vaccine.
All routine school-aged vaccines are free in B.C., with immunization records available at healthgateway.gov.bc.ca. Immunizations that are still needed for children can be booked online at fraserhealth.ca/GetImmunized
Other measures include refraining from touching sick or dead animals or their droppings and keeping the sick or dead animals out of homes. For those with pets, also keep them away from sick or dead animals and their feces and report all sick or dead animals located.
Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Health office for poultry or livestock, the B.C. Animal Health Centre or your veterinarian for your pet, the B.C. Wild Bird Mortaity Line 1-866-431-2473 for wild birds, and the B.C. Wildlife Health Program 1 250-751-7246 for wild mammals.
Individuals are also advised that petting zoo and farm visits are still OK, but direct contact with any bird should be avoided at this time.
Families are advised to stay home and away from others if exhibiting any flu-like symptoms.
If you have been exposed to sick or dead animals or birds where the avian flu has been detected, monitor your symptoms for 10 days. If symptoms occur, all are advised to contact their health-care provider to access treatment and testing for the virus.
"Your continued support in keeping our children and communities healthy is much appreciated," Tyler concludes.
- with files from Lauren Collins
