Canada Records First H5N1 Bird Flu Death

Health authorities in Canada said the first avian flu death in North America is a patient who just returned from China. The victim was from the western plains of Alberta province.

Canada Health Minister Rona Ambrose, on Wednesday confirmed North America’s first case of H5N1, also known as avian flu.

The identity of the victim was withheld to protect the family’s privacy.

Officials said the victim, who died in the western Canada province on January 3, had recently returned from a trip to Beijing.

Gregory Taylor, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, said the death was an isolated case.

The health ministry of Alberta in a statement revealed that in 2013, there were 38 world-wide cases of H5N1 avian influenza reported to the World Health Organization and 24 deaths.

Authorities warned Canadians to avoid contact with birds in China.

Source: Aljazeera.net

Image Credit: heights.com.pk