A Canadian adolescent is in critical condition in a British Columbia hospital after being infected with a new genotype of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. The patient initially developed conjunctivitis, fever, and coughing, before rapidly progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed on 13 November. The teenager had no underlying health conditions prior to the infection, highlighting the severity of the virus in young people. The patient has been treated with multiple medications. This is the first case of H5N1 avian flu in Canada and in North America to develop severe symptoms, related to an ongoing outbreak in poultry in British Columbia.
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Bird flu: Canadian teenager is critically ill with new genotype
