Canada Confirms First Case Of Bird Flu On Humans

Virus testing laboratory. (Bokskapet-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - A teenager in British Columbia became the first person in Canada to be confirmed positive for bird flu.

The Provincial Health Department in Canada said the teenager is now being treated at a child hospital due to the H5 bird flu.

"This is a rare event," said British Health Chief Columbia total Henry, quoted from AFP, Sunday, November 10.

Bird flu is most commonly found in wild birds and poultry, but was recently detected in mammals, with outbreaks in cows seen across the United States (US) this year.

Not a few bird flu also infects humans through close contact or contaminated environment.

Scientists have raised concerns about the increasing number of mammals infected with bird flu, although cases in humans are rare.

They fear the high transmission rate could facilitate viral mutations, which could enable it to be transmitted from one human to another.