Can humans get avian influenza?
Avian influenza viruses, such as the h5 virus present in Asia, may, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Human transmission has occurred to people having prolonged contact with heavily contaminated environments. Human to human transmission of avian influenza is extremely limited. Health Canada advises that there is no public risk associated with eating cooked eggs or meat from areas experiencing an outbreak of avian influenza. • Has anyone in British Columbia contracted avian influenza? According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, these latest cases of avian influenza present no increased public health risk. Neither of the two current confirmed cases of avian influenza found in British Columbia in November 2005 have been transmitted to humans. In both cases, the virus found has been classified as low-pathogenic, meaning that the severity of illness in the birds infected was low. • Is it safe for me to travel to Vancouver? Should I be postponing my trip? Vancouver remains a
