Avian flu has been confirmed in Canada. What does that mean for you?

A B.C. teenager remains in hospital with avian flu, according to British Columbia’s top doctor. 

On Tuesday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the teen is suffering from severe respiratory distress. On Wednesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed it as avian flu — the first case of its kind in Canada. 

Henry said it’s very likely that the B.C. teen’s infection took place due to an exposure to either a sick animal or something in the environment, but it is a “real possibility” that the source might never be determined. 

Avian flu typically spreads between wild and domestic birds but can spread to other animals and people. There have now been more than 40 confirmed human cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of which have been found in California and are linked to dairy cows.

The variant of avian flu in dairy cattle in the U.S. is not the same as the branch confirmed in the B.C. teen, the PHAC says.

Humans have, thus far, contracted avian flu from animals. 

But if the virus begins to spread from person to person, Dr. Peter Lin says it could become a “pandemic-level” virus.

“If it starts to spread quickly, we have to act quickly,” he told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC’s The Early Edition.

What is avian flu?

This particular strain of avian influenza, also known as H5N1, is highly pathogenic in birds, according to the province, meaning it can cause severe illness and death in those animals.

What are the symptoms in birds? 

The province said birds’ behaviour changes when they’ve contracted avian flu. They tend to become quiet and depressed. They also experience diarrhea and swelling of the skin under their eyes, and their wattles and combs become swollen.

Birds with avian flu often produce fewer eggs, and the ones they do produce often have soft shells or no shells. 

Can other animals catch it? 

Yes. The virus has been found in cats, dogs, cattle, goats, pigs, foxes, raccoons and skunks. 

How likely am I to contract avian flu? 

Avian flu infections in humans are rare. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the virus does not spread from person to person easily. 

Human cases are typically found in people who have close contact with animals that have avian flu, including people working on farms. 

Can I get it from consuming meat or dairy products linked to the virus? 

According to PHAC, there is no evidence of avian influenza in samples of milk in Canada. 

Milk and milk products that have been pasteurized are safe to consume, the agency says.

The BCCDC says it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry and dairy products.

What symptoms of avian flu show up in humans?

Health Canada says symptoms of avian flu in people include red eyes with discharge, cough, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, bleeding gums, muscle and headaches and in some cases, severe respiratory illness. Others show no symptoms. 

What do I do if I think I have avian flu?

If you have the symptoms associated with bird flu and have been exposed to sick birds or animals, Health Canada says you need to contact a health-care provider or your local public health authority right away. 

Anyone showing severe symptoms, like respiratory distress or neurological changes, should call 911. 

Is there a vaccine for avian flu? 

The short answer: yes.

But it’s not readily available in Canada. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, said Canada should be stockpiling H5N1 vaccines. 

The Public Health Agency of Canada told The Canadian Press by email that it is not stockpiling H5N1 vaccines because “the shelf-life of the vaccines is only up to 2 years.”

Finland is offering H5N1 vaccination “to individuals who have a high occupational risk of being exposed to avian flu,” said Dr. Matthew Miller, the director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton. 

Miller said offering the shot to dairy workers, poultry workers or those who work with potentially infected wildlife to reduce their risk of exposure would also reduce the risk of a pandemic. 

“This is something that’s being talked about in jurisdictions all over the world,” said Miller.

How can I help reduce the spread of avian flu? 

The PHAC says B.C. officials are investigating where this first case came from but haven’t figured it out yet. 

PHAC says close contacts have been given anti-viral medication. 

Do not touch a sick or dead animal or their droppings, the BCCDC says. 

Anyone who does contract avian flu should stay home and stay away from others until their symptoms have been cleared up for 24 hours. 

If you suspect birds you own have been infected with avian flu, the province asks that you call your veterinarian, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the B.C. Animal Health Centre. 

Health Canada advises that pet owners don’t allow their cats or dogs to play with dead wild birds. The agency also says they shouldn’t eat raw meat from poultry and wild or game birds. 

Guidelines for those hunting wild birds have been set out to ensure safe handling of game, including working in a well-ventilated area, wearing rubber gloves, and washing hands.