April 8, 2004

Avian Influenza: British Columbia (Update)
Health Canada continues to monitor the avian influenza situation in British Columbia very closely. Despite the detection of a second human infection with the H7 virus, the risk to human health remains low. There is no evidence to date of human to human spread of the virus. Both cases of H7 infections detected to date followed close contact with infected birds and both workers have now fully recovered after experiencing only mild symptoms. Close contact means either handling or being in a confined airspace with the infected birds. While the virus in these two workers has been identified as H7, the full subtype has yet to be determined. Poultry within the region have been affected by the H7N3 subtype. Specimens from these workers have been sent to Health Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg to determine the subtype of the virus. Additional workers involved in culling operations have also reported mild symptoms to local public health authorities. All of these workers have had close contact with the infected birds. They have experienced mild symptoms that included conjunctivitis, cough or runny nose. Most have fully recovered and the rest are recovering. Tests to date have not identified the H7 virus in any of the other workers. At this time of year there are many causes of mild respiratory symptoms. Though human infection with avian influenza viruses is rare, people who have close contact with infected birds, such as chicken farmers and workers, may experience mild symptoms. These findings are consistent with previous experiences with H7 avian influenza.
Source: Health Canada, 2 April 2004.

Influenza: Canada (Update)
Season to date (24 August 2003-27 March 2004), Health Canada has received 75,223 reports of laboratory tests for influenza; 11,299 tests (15%) were positive, including 11,199 influenza A detections (99.1%) and 100 influenza B detections (0.9%). The National Microbiology Laboratory has antigenetically characterized 759 influenza viruses; 717 (94.5%) A/Fujian/411/02(H3N2)-like, 25 (3.3%) A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like, 12 (1.6%) B/Sichuan/379/99-like, 3 (0.4%) B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like, 1 (0.1%) A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like, and 1 (0.1%) H1N2. Detections of other respiratory viruses are at or below the expected range for this time of year. To date, there have been a total of 730 outbreaks reported, including 447 influenza confirmed outbreaks in LTCF/retirement lodges (360) and hospitals (87) and 283 ILI outbreaks in schools (188) and other (95).
Source: FluWatch, 21 to27 March 2004 (Week 13), Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Montana
The deputy superintendent at Glacier National Park died 25 March 2004 of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in what was the first reported case of the disease this year. A male, age 61, became ill with flu-like symptoms in mid-March. Blood tests confirming the diagnosis were not completed until after his death. This was the 223rd case of hantavirus reported in Montana since the disease was first discovered in the state in 1993. He was the sixth Montanan to die of the disease. There have been two previous deaths in Cascade County and one each in Glacier, Phillips, and Lewis and Clark counties. The average age of the victims was 36. Officials with the Flathead City-County Health Department are still investigating how he contracted the disease, which occurs most frequently in the spring.
Source: Department of Public Health and Human Services, State of Montana, 2 April 2004.

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The details given are for information only and may be very provisional. Where incidents are considered of national importance and are ongoing, the initial report will be updated as new information becomes available.