Health Canada says bird flu risk ‘remains low’ following first suspected human case in B.C.

Canadians need not worry about the first suspected human case of bird flu contracted in the country, Health Canada says.The federal department issued a statement Sunday in response to an announcement the day before from British Columbia’s Ministry of Health that a teenager had tested positive for avian influenza, also called bird flu. The revelation prompted public health officials to look into the case to find the source of the exposure and identify contacts.“Based on current evidence in Canada, the risk to the general public remains low at this time,” said the statement from Health Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson.