According to the World Health Organization, before the end of 2012, 384 infections with H5N1 were fatal in Asia. This is the first case in North America and it is a warning signal, being known that this can be potentially pandemic. There is no confirmed infection of family members of the victim but they are treated with medication as prevention. A good news is that this disease has not yet been transmitted between humans. Every case is individually contaminated in contact with an infected bird.
This is why Canada’s Health Minister, Rona Ambrose, said in a public declaration that “the risk of H5N1 to Canadians is very low”. No special measures are expected at this time in the US.
