A teenager in British Columbia has become the first person in Canada to test positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu. Health authorities are urgently investigating how the virus spread, but they assure the public that the risk remains low.

Canada has reported H5N1 bird flu in wildlife and domestic birds. This year, there have been at least 24 reports of the virus in domestic bird facilities, including at least 10 infected premises in BC in October, according to data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry shared in a news conference that a teenager, who contracted the first presumptive case of bird flu in Canada, was in critical condition after developing 'acute respiratory distress.