BC Resident Has the First Confirmed Case of Avian Flu

A pair of BC residents who recently returned from a trip to China have been diagnosed as the first North American case with H7N9, avian flu.

A conference call was held with media across Canada as the Federal Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose was joined by BC’s Health Minister Terry Lake to make the announcement. There has been one confirmed case of H7N9 in British Columbia and one suspected case as well. Both people are said to have travelled to China as tourists and they are said to have developed the avian flu while sightseeing.

“The individual was not symptomatic during travel and only developed symptoms after returning to Canada,” said Minister Ambrose. “I am pleased to report that the individual is now recovering from the illness and did not require hospitalization. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises that the risk to Canadians is very low, as there is no evidence to suggest that H7N9 transmit easily from person to person.”

This specific strain of avian flu has not been previously reported in BC and the person diagnosed with H7N9 is said to be recovering well, along with the second suspected case. Officials say the people did not show symptoms until they arrived at home so there is no fear of transmission on the airplane the two travelled on.

“This case does represent the first time that H7N9 has been identified here in North America and we have notified the WHO as part of our response,” said Minister Lake.

Some information been released about the two individuals, one is male and the other female, both are from the lower mainland and in their 50s. The couple became ill within a day of each other and it is expected that they became ill from the same exposure, not from a person to person transmission. This particular virus, H7N9 has not been previously seen until it was found in China in March 2013. Avoiding travel to China has not been recommended by the Canadian government, just avoidance of open markets and places where poultry could be, farms and bird droppings.

The resident who became sick started showing symptoms after their return on January 12^th and became to feel unwell on January 14^th and sought medical attention. The individual remains in self-isolation and they are being monitored by provincial health officials. The province was made aware of the situation on January 23^rd and the official diagnosis was confirmed on Monday morning. Officials are unclear how the couple contracted H7N9.