B.C. warns doctors to watch for avian flu spreading to humans after spike in cases in birds | 24CA News

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is asking docs to be looking out for the unlikely chance of extremely pathogenic avian influenza spreading to people after a latest spike in outbreaks on industrial farms within the Fraser Valley.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, there have been 48 websites within the area with infections involving the H5N1 subtype of the virus since Nov. 16.

A Dec. 2 communicable illness advisory from the BCCDC warns of “severe illness” amongst wild and domesticated birds.

“While HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] does not typically infect humans, the increase in detection among birds over the last two weeks increases the potential for exposure and transmission to humans who, if infected, may experience symptoms of varying severity,” the advisory says.

“Exposure to novel influenza viruses is concerning because of the potential for human adaptation and associated pandemic risk. Such risk may be considered a ‘low probability, high impact event.”

So far, 4 human circumstances of the virus have been detected in North America and Europe, together with one within the U.S., one within the U.Ok. and two in Spain.

The BCCDC says the potential of avian influenza needs to be thought of in sufferers who’ve had shut contact with contaminated animals. Symptoms are just like different circumstances of flu and will embrace cough, sore throat, fever, runny nostril, fatigue, muscle pains, joint stiffness, headache, pink eye, shortness of breath and seizures.

British Columbians are being suggested to keep away from pointless contact with each home and wild birds, be certain that eggs and poultry dishes are properly cooked, keep away from surfaces contaminated with fowl droppings, boil untreated water from areas the place wild birds collect and get an annual flu shot.