Avian flu cases are concerning Quebec health officials [Video]

Avian flu is raising red flags across several provinces, including in Quebec.

While it poses a low risk to humans right now, experts are concerned that could change.

The virus has started to affect new species, jumping from birds to mammals. In very rare cases, humans have become sick, says Montreal-based cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos.

“It is very possible it could become better at infecting humans and spreading from humans to humans, and if that happens, we could have a different strain of influenza that could then spread across the world and cause a very bad flu season like we saw in 2009,” he adds.

In November, Canada’s first human case was confirmed in B.C. A teenager was in critical condition as of the last update from public health officials.

The same month in Quebec, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) detected two cases of avian influenza on poultry farms.

…