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An Albertan who recently returned from China has died from H5N1 avian influenza.

The victim had travelled to Beijing in December to visit family. After landing in Edmonton Dec. 27, the victim was admitted to hospital on Jan. 1 and passed away on Jan. 3.

It's the first human death from the bird flu in North America.

Last year, there were 38 world-wide cases of that flu reported to the World Health Organization, and 24 deaths.

"This is a very rare and isolated case," said Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health.

"I am confident that there will be no transmissions in the province of Alberta."

Talbot said H5N1 is typically contracted through close contact with birds, which could happen on a farm, at a market, or at a restaurant where animals are slaughtered right at the table.

"Virtually every case has a pretty strong link to a close contact with birds. From the experience that we have so far, person-to-person contact is extremely rare, and it almost always is only associated with people in the exact same household," he said.

Officials would not confirm that the person who died was a woman who worked at a Red Deer hospital.

Click here for more info on avian flu

The province has offered the victim's close contacts Tamiflu as a precaution, but none of them have displayed symptoms.

Talbot said the victim's symptoms started on the flight home as fever, malaise and headache, which differed from classic flu symptoms because there was no cough or respiratory involvement.

The flu vaccine currently being offered does not protect from H5N1.



The province expects to run out of flu shots by the end of the week, with an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 left in stock.

A record 1.2 million Albertans - about 28% of the population - will be immunized by the time the shots run out. The province spent $7.8 million on the vaccine this year to purchase 5% more than last year, when shots were still left over at the end of the season.

The shot has been offered since Oct. 21 but demand skyrocketed since Jan. 2 after the province made a public plea for immunization.

Talbot encouraged common-sense strategies to avoid the flu, such as hand washing and staying home while sick, adding anyone who has had H1N1 before or who received the stronger H1N1 vaccine in 2009 could potentially still have immunity.

Click here for five things you should know about H5N1



Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason criticized the province over London Drugs pharmacies in Calgary charging $20 per vaccination this year, a practice that Health Minister Fred Horne said he will look into to see if there is "a loophole that needs to be closed."

Mason said the minister has not reacted quickly enough.

"If they don't fix it now, in a future year when there might be a much more serious epidemic, private companies could be profiteering on the backs of people who are very frightened and cannot get a life-saving drug," he said.

Alberta Health Services will open a flu care clinic at the former Woodcroft Public Health Centre, 13221 115 Ave., Friday to reduce flu-related pressures on hospital emergency rooms.

kevin.maimann@sunmedia.ca



As of January 7, 2014 Alberta totals Immunizations 985,024 Confirmed "A" cases 1430 – H1N1 1287 – H3N2 14 – Not typed 129 Deaths* 9 Hospitalized* 354 ICU* 83

* Only for H1N1 and Not typed

FAQ:Source, World Health Organization

Q1: What is H5N1?

H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or "bird flu"). Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person. When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.

Q2: How does H5N1 influenza spread to people?

Almost all cases of H5N1 infection in people have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments. The virus does not infect humans easily, and spread from person to person appears to be unusual. There is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and thoroughly cooked food.

Q3: Why is there so much concern about H5N1 influenza?

H5N1 infection in humans can cause severe disease and has a high mortality rate. If the H5N1 virus were to change and become easily transmissible from person to person while retaining its capacity to cause severe disease, the consequences for public health could be very serious.

Q4: Why might the H5N1 influenza virus change?

Influenza viruses constantly undergo genetic changes. It would be a cause for concern, should the H5N1 virus become more easily transmissible among humans.

Q5: What are the symptoms of H5N1 avian influenza in humans?

The symptoms of H5N1 infection may include fever (often high fever, > 38°C) and malaise, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. Other early symptoms may include abdominal pain, chest pain and diarrhoea. The infection may progress quickly to severe respiratory illness (for example, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and neurologic changes (altered mental status or seizures).

Q6: Is it safe to eat chicken, poultry products and other wild game birds?

Yes, it is safe to eat properly prepared and cooked poultry and game birds. The virus is sensitive to heat. Normal temperatures used for cooking (so that food reaches 70°C in all parts) will kill the virus. As a standard precaution, WHO recommends that poultry, poultry products and wild game birds should always be prepared following good hygienic practices, and that poultry meat should be properly cooked.

To date, a large number of human infections with the H5N1 virus have been linked to the home slaughter and subsequent handling of diseased or dead birds prior to cooking. These practices represent the highest risk of human infection and are the most important to avoid.

Q7: How is H5N1 avian influenza in humans treated?

In most cases, avian influenza in humans develops into a serious disease that should be treated promptly in the hospital and may require intensive care, where available. The antiviral medicine oseltamivir can reduce the severity of illness and prevent death, and should be used in all cases.

Q8: Is a vaccine available to prevent human infection with H5N1avian influenza?

Candidate vaccines to prevent H5N1 infection have been developed, but they are not ready for widespread use.

Q9: Does seasonal influenza (seasonal flu) vaccination provide protection against H5N1 viruses?

Seasonal influenza vaccination does not appear to protect against H5N1 infection.

Q10: What is the WHO response to H5N1 influenza?

WHO is working with countries to help them detect and manage cases of H5N1 infection in humans when they occur.

WHO collaborates with global health partners and agencies, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to control and prevent the spread of animal diseases.

WHO’s global laboratory system, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), identifies and monitors strains of circulating influenza viruses, and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment or control measures.

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