Canadian dies of bird flu virus H5N1

First case of the bird flu variant „H5N1“ in North America

09/01/2014

In North America, for the first time, a human died of the bird flu virus H5N1. A Canadian girl from the province of Alberta suddenly had severe nausea at the end of December on her return flight from China. A few days later she died in a clinic. Meanwhile, it is clear that the woman - probably during a trip to China - with the dangerous bird flu variant „H5N1“ had infected. Nevertheless, there is no reason for the Canadian authorities to assume that the population is at risk.

First disease symptoms on the return flight from China
In Canada, the first case of fatal infection with the bird flu virus H5N1 has become known. According to the Canadian Department of Health, a woman from the western province of Alberta after a China trip on the return flight from Beijing to Edmonton on December 27 last year had first symptoms of bird flu and was subsequently treated in the hospital - where she finally on 3. January passed away.

„Very rare and isolated case“
As studies have now revealed, the woman had apparently been infected with the influenza A virus H5N1, the causative agent of the so-called „Avian influenza H5N1“, which is relatively rare in humans, but in most cases ends fatally. But for the Canadian authorities, there is no reason to panic, because so far, it is assumed that an isolated case - even if it is not yet clear how and where the woman was specifically infected. „This is a very rare and isolated case. Bird flu is not easily transmitted from person to person. It is not the same virus that is currently present in seasonal influenza in Alberta“, said the leading Medical Officer of the province of Alberta, Dr. med. James Talbot to the Canadian daily „The Globe and Mail“.

380 deaths in the last decade
So far, the bird flu variant „H5N1“ occurred in humans especially in Asia and Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 641 people have been infected worldwide over the last decade, with 380 people dying. Most cases occurred in Indonesia (194 cases / 162 deaths), Egypt (173/63) and Vietnam (125/62). (No)

Picture: Aka