Canadian Teen in Critical Condition Raises Bird Flu Concerns

Health officials investigate the first Canadian case of H5N1 bird flu amid fears of wider spread and unknown transmission sources.

The Canadian teenager is in critical condition with acute respiratory distress syndrome, marking the first presumptive H5N1 case in Canada in over a decade.
Despite no contact with birds or farms, the source of the teen's infection remains unidentified, with tests on household pets returning negative results.
Experts emphasize that while the risk of a pandemic is currently low, the virus's potential to mutate and spread efficiently remains a concern.
There have been 46 confirmed human cases of H5N1 in the U.S. this year, primarily among farm workers, with no confirmed person-to-person transmission.
Both Canadian and U.S. health officials are urged to enhance surveillance and preparedness, with ongoing investigations into possible transmission routes.