Canadian Teen in Critical Condition After Possibly Contracting Bird Flu [Video]

A teenager in British Columbia, Canada, is in critical condition after contracting the first presumptive case of bird flu in the country, health officials say.

British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry shared in a news conference, per Global News, Reuters and The Washington Post, that the teenager, who has not been identified, was admitted to the hospital on Friday and developed “acute respiratory distress,” which sent them to critical care.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a “life-threatening” condition that happens when fluid begins to leak into the lung, preventing enough oxygen from getting into the body, according to the American Lung Association. 

Henry shared that the teen, who had been “healthy” with “no underlying conditions,” previously went to the hospital on Nov. 2 after they were experiencing “conjunctivitis” symptoms (red eyes) with a “fever and cough” — similar to other respiratory viruses — per Global News. The teenager was eventually …