First human case of H5N1 in North America
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In ten years, less than 650 human cases of H5N1 have been reported in 15 countries.
Canada's minister of health Rona Ambrose has confirmed the first human case of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in North America, following a fatality due to the virus.
Speaking at a technical briefing, Ms Ambrose said the Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed a resident of Alberta, Canada, has died from H5N1 after recently returning from a trip to China.
Stating that this is an "isolated" case, Ms Ambrose said the risk posed to Canadians is very low, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
According to Dr Gregory Taylor, deputy chief public health officer for Canada, the Alberta resident began to feel unwell during a return flight from Bejing on December 27 and was hospitalised after the symptoms worsened.
The patient passed away on January 3 and H5N1 was confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg on January 7.
According to Canadian health officials, since the patient's return from China, no other illnesses of this type have been identified in Canada and the patient's family are not displaying any symptoms.
Dr Taylor says over the past decade, less than 650 human cases of H5N1 have been reported in 15 countries, but the virus kills around 60 per cent of those infected.
Authorities are working with the World Health Organisation and other national and international partners, including those in China to follow up on the source and circumstances of the infection.
Dr Taylor has advised Canadians travelling abroad to areas where H5N1 is a concern to avoid high-risk areas such as live animal markets and poultry farms, as well as unnecessary contact with birds and surfaces carrying bird droppings or secretions. In addition, he said, poultry dishes, including those containing egg, must be cooked thoroughly.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
