Summary

A teenager in British Columbia is critically ill with Canada’s first suspected human case of H5N1 bird flu, experiencing rapid deterioration and acute respiratory distress.

The teen, who had no farm exposure, developed symptoms on November 2 and was hospitalized on November 8.

Health officials are investigating the infection source and testing contacts, though no additional cases have been found.

While H5N1 transmission between humans remains rare, the virus is spreading in animals across North America, raising concerns of potential future outbreaks.

  • @[email protected]
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    8311 days ago

    I’ve had my eye on this situation for months. i have a really bad feeling, not gonna lie. and having a vaccine denier in the white house again is REALLY bad timing.

    • @[email protected]
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      3711 days ago

      Trump isn’t the direct problem, RFK is. RFK is batshit and somehow still managed to receive up to 15k votes in some states. And then trumps lazy potato ass throws RFK a job favor not caring how it plays out since RFK won’t be touching his health.

      Flu is a uniquely adaptive virus. It’s why we don’t have a universal vaccine, and why King picked it as his death virus in The Stand. That said, like with H1N1, they can batch those vaccines out rather quickly.

      Extra info regarding general yearly flu shots: There are a lot of flus. If two different flus meet in the night a third type of flu will be born. So each year, science runs the odds and picks the 3 most likely flus and puts them into that year’s flu vaccine. They’re pretty good at getting it right. Even when they’re 100% correct, flu #4, #5, or #6 can still get through. The biggest misconception is thinking “the” flu or “the” flu shot references a single virus is it’s entirety.

      As with most things human, it’s a probability game.

      H5N1 vaccine can be produced and handed out rather quickly, as they were with H1N1.

      • @[email protected]
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        411 days ago

        yeah I’m aware. I’m unfortunately getting well aquainted with the healthcare system, so this will impact me greatly I’m sure

    • @cmbabul
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      711 days ago

      I think we do already have a vaccine for this, now obviously Trump can fuck with its supply but there’s still some time. If you live in a blue state you might be ok yourself

      • @rayyy
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        410 days ago

        If you live in a blue state

        He might screw with supplies to blue states like he did the last time or even restrict vaccines to drive up the price.

        • @cmbabul
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          310 days ago

          For sure that’s why the timing is important

    • OpenStars
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      211 days ago

      Meh, at this point, do we really want to live forever? :-P

  • Ms. ArmoredThirteen
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    5311 days ago

    It’s a good thing everyone learned their lessons from the last plague and we are now unanimously on board with various precautions and vaccination. This’ll all blow over in no time

  • @aesthelete
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    11 days ago

    Hope you stocked up on masks, folks. Having Mr. Bear meat in charge of public health and Mr. Tariffs in charge of the economy if another pandemic occurs is going to be a wild ride and with a four year term minimum we’ll be strapped in for the duration.

    • @AbidanYre
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      1010 days ago

      COVID almost killed Trump last time. Maybe we’ll get lucky.

      • @rayyy
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        710 days ago

        Naaaa, he will get the vaccine and top rate care that the peons won’t.

    • @astanix
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      1311 days ago

      Just in time…

  • @[email protected]
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    3510 days ago

    Cool.

    Coolcoolcoolcoolcoolcoolcooolcoolcool.

    Captain Trips will hit just as we idiot Americans install RFK Jr. as an “advisor” to the Department of Health and the CDC.

  • @[email protected]
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    2111 days ago

    If this ends up being anything like the 1918 outbreak, housing prices will come waaay down. Cremations, however, will cost quite a bit more…

  • @werefreeatlast
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    19 days ago

    Don’t worry, it’s not airborne. Just walk 6 feet behind other people.