There was a stir when a case of H5N1 bird flu came to light in British Columbia, Canada. The condition of a teenager is very serious due to infection. This is the first case of H5N1 bird flu in Canada. However, how this virus reached the teenager… is not yet known.
British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said the teenager is struggling with breathing problems. The officer is surprised that the teenager neither went to the farm nor came in contact with chickens etc. Now the question is how did he get infected with this dangerous virus.
According to the report, the teenager was not in contact with the birds. But has been with dogs and cats. But during investigation, virus has not been found in these animals. The health team has now started searching for the people who were in contact with the teenager. The question is also beginning to arise whether this virus can also spread from one person to another. If this happens, will the world have to see lockdown again?
The expert expressed this concern
The director of the Epidemic Center of Brown University in RI says the situation is dire. This virus is much less deadly than what we have seen so far. But in the long run it could be more deadly than any pandemic, including COVID-19. He said that the biggest concern is that the teenager infected with this is very serious. The second concern is that we do not understand how the teenager got infected.
Total 47 cases in America
H5N1 has not yet been detected in cattle in Canada. However, this virus has been found in chickens. Since 2022, 47 people in America have been infected by it. These include 25 dairy workers, 21 poultry workers and one other case. This virus is commonly found in birds and chickens. This virus was first discovered in 1966.
According to the World Health Organization, a new form of this virus emerged in 2020. It spread rapidly throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. Reaching North America in 2021 and Central and South America in 2022.
What is H5N1 virus?
The H5N1 virus can cause fatal disease. According to the World Health Organization, the condition of more than half of the patients found infected last year was very critical. Bird flu or avian influenza is a viral infection. Mainly it spreads among birds. But cases of its spread among humans have also been reported.
H5N1 is a type of viral bird flu. It is infecting humans rapidly. However, no case of spread from one person to another has been reported so far. This virus spreads to humans only after coming in contact with poultry, animals and birds.
Will the world see lockdown again?
According to the report, Dr. of the Center for Health Security says that the current outbreak of H5N1 is a matter of concern. But the risk of it turning into an epidemic is less.
On the other hand, Dr., an expert from Columbia University, says that the risk of it becoming an epidemic is low. But the possibility of mutation in future cannot be ruled out. He also acknowledged that it could become more contagious in the future.
The question has also been raised whether bird flu could lead to a nationwide lockdown like the Covid-19 pandemic. Experts are skeptical about this, especially in the case of H5N1. Dr. says that I do not think that there will be a lockdown due to H5N1 strain.