B.C. top doctor Bonnie Henry said Tuesday (Nov. 26) that the public health investigation into Canada's first human case of avian flu has closed for now, adding that officials might not ever know how the B.C. teenager might have contracted the avian flu.
The Public Health Agency of Canada Nov. 13 confirmed the teenager receiving care was Canada's first human case of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) caused by influenza A(H5N1) virus.
Henry said the teenager remains in "stable" but "critical" condition at B.C.'s Children Hospital, adding that investigators have not been able to speak to the individual, but to families and friends.
"There's no further need and we've been extensively looking for concentric circles of people who might have had contact with somebody, who might have had contact or animals who have might had contact," Henry said. She said earlier that the now-concluded investigation found no evidence of transmission from the teenager to other individuals and no evidence of other cases.
"Absolutely, if this person recovers, which we absolutely hope, and we have an opportunity to speak (to the teenager), we may be able to get more information," Henry said. "But that may not be possible," she said, noting that the teenager might not remember details. "So unless something, we won't be continuing."
She added though the existing surveillance system will continue to look for the virus. Meanwhile, the teenager, who did not have any underlying conditions, remains "very sick" and is unable to breathe independently, Henry said, adding that answers to key questions about the person's ability to recover and long-term consequences remain unknown.
Henry said available information comes from the teenager's family and care team. "So there were some positive signs...over the last few days and we remain very hopeful," Henry said. "We are sending all of our thoughts to this young person and...family. Teenagers were very resilient and they can recover from these types of very severe infections, way more than older people. But there is a lot we don't know yet and the clinical care team doesn't know yet either."
More to come...
