BC health officials say they have detected the first case of H5 bird flu in a human in Canada.

In a press release on Saturday afternoon, the provincial health officer’s office said a positive test for the H5 influenza virus was received at the BC Center for Disease Control’s public health laboratory.

The samples are currently being sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, the office said.

The person who tested positive is a teenager from B.C.’s Fraser Health region, which stretches from Burnaby to Hope. According to the statement, the infected teenager is being treated at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

BC’s provincial health officer, Dr. “Our thoughts are with this young man and his family during this difficult time,” Bonnie Henry said in a statement.

“This is a rare event and although this is the first case of H5 detected in a person in BC or Canada, there have been a small number of human cases in the US and elsewhere, so we are conducting a comprehensive investigation.” “To fully understand the source of exposure in BC.”

This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.