The Canadian health officials had confirmed that the first known fatal case of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in North America.
The Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said Wednesday “deceased person was an Alberta resident who had recently moved to Beijing”.
Officials told that victim started feeling sick on a flight to Canada from Beijing on Dec. 27, it was the first case of H5N1 to appear in Beijing, and that China is looking into it. Dr. Gregory Taylor, Canada’s acting chief public health officer that is the first proof of this particular virus circulating in Beijing. Chinese authorities are getting interested. We have contacted them already.
Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health said” family members of the victim are being monitored and treated with medication, but noted that there’s nothing to signify they are ill”. Talbot told 2 companions traveled with the victim but have shown no signs of getting sick.
According to the World Health Organization, between 2003 and December 2013 there were 648 confirmed human cases of H5N1 infection in 15 countries, leading to 384 deaths.
Ms Ambrose said “Canadian officials were working with Chinese authorities on the case and the risk of going to be H5N1 is very low, it is not the regular seasonal flu. This is an isolated case,”
First H5N1 Bird Flu Death Confirmed in Canada
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