British Columbia Teenager Catches Bird Flu: What We Know

Living in a place where birds fly freely, and suddenly, a teenager gets sick with bird flu. That's what happened in British Columbia, Canada. A teen was admitted to a children's hospital with a presumed case of H5 bird flu, health officials revealed. The virus likely came from a bird or animal, and the province is now investigating how the teen got exposed. You might be wondering, what's the big deal about bird flu? Well, it's pretty common in wild birds worldwide and can spread to poultry and even dairy cows. In the U. S. , there have been over 45 cases in farm workers since April. But here’s the kicker: there’s a tiny chance it could jump from person to person, which could lead to a pandemic.Right now, the risk to the public is low, according to Canada's Health Minister Mark Holland. British Columbia Health Officer Bonnie Henry said, "This is a rare event. We're digging deep to find out how this happened. " In British Columbia, there have been over 22 poultry farms infected since October. And in the U. S. , nearly 450 dairy farms in 15 states have been hit since March. It's a lot to take in, but it's crucial to stay informed.