What to know about avian flu after B.C. case, from transmission to symptoms

A B.C. teen has a suspected case of H5N1 avian flu — the first known human to acquire the virus in Canada.

A B.C. teen has a suspected case of H5N1 avian flu — the first known human to acquire the virus in Canada.

The provincial government said on the weekend that B.C.'s chief veterinarian and public health teams are still investigating the source of exposure, but that it's "very likely" an animal or bird.

Human-to-human transmission is very rare, but as cases among animals rise, many experts are worried the virus could develop that ability.

The teen was being treated at BC Children's Hospital on Saturday. The provincial health officer said there were no updates on the patient Monday.

"I'm very concerned, obviously, for the young person who was infected,” said Dr. Matthew Miller, director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Miller, who is also the co-director of the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub, said there have been several people infected with H5N1 in the U.S., and almost all were livestock workers.

In an email to The Canadian Press on Monday afternoon, the Public Health Agency of Canada said "based on current evidence in Canada, the risk to the general public remains low at this time."