From PHAC. The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Gregory Taylor, Terry Lake, British Columbia’s Minister of Health and Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s Deputy Provincial Health Officer today confirmed that an individual in B.C. has tested positive for the H7N9 avian influenza strain. The individual recently returned to Canada from China. This is the first documented case of H7N9 infection in a human in North America.
The risk to Canadians of getting sick with H7N9 is very low as evidence suggests that it does not transmit easily from person-to-person.
The individual is a resident of British Columbia and was not symptomatic during travel and only became sick after arrival in Canada. The individual did not require hospitalization and is currently recovering from their illness, in self-isolation.
All close contacts of the individual have been identified and their health is being monitored by provincial public health authorities. The Canadian healthcare system has strong procedures and controls in place to respond to and control the spread of infectious diseases and protect healthcare workers.
The diagnosis of H7N9 was confirmed by both B.C.’s provincial laboratory and the Agency’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
The Agency works closely with its national and international partners, including the WHO, to track all types of flu activity in Canada and around the world.
Though the individual was not symptomatic, and H7N9 does not transmit easily from person-to-person, the Agency is committed to ensuring Canadians have all the information they need, as a result, we are sharing the flight number. The individual was on Air Canada flight 8.
Quick Facts
- H7N9 is a type of avian influenza virus that has been seen in people in China since 2013. Almost all of the cases reported contact with poultry, usually in live poultry markets.
- To date, the H7N9 strain has not been detected in birds in Canada.
- The Agency’s Travel Health Notices on www.travel.gc.ca provide information on how to protect yourself from avian influenza while abroad.
- There is no risk of catching the virus by eating well-cooked poultry. Canada does not import raw poultry or raw poultry products from China.
- Canadians can help protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu in general by:
- Getting an annual influenza shot
- Washing hands frequently;
- Covering coughs and sneezes;
- Keeping common surfaces clean; and
- Staying home when sick.
- The Agency has notified China, the World Health Organization and other international partners about the case, in keeping with our commitment under the International Health Regulations.
Meanwhile The Globe and Mail reported on the incident Monday saying, “A British Columbia couple in their 50s fell ill with the “classic” influenza symptoms of a fever and cough shortly after returning to the province’s lower mainland on Jan. 12 following a trip to China.”
[excerpt] “A few days after returning from their vacation, the man began to experience flu-like symptoms. The next day, the woman fell ill, too. She visited her family doctor, who took a swab that was sent on for testing, first at a provincial laboratory in British Columbia and then at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Both were treated with antiviral medication and neither required hospitalization.”A few days after returning from their vacation, the man began to experience flu-like symptoms. The next day, the woman fell ill, too. She visited her family doctor, who took a swab that was sent on for testing, first at a provincial laboratory in British Columbia and then at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Both were treated with antiviral medication and neither required hospitalization.
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