The first known fatal case of avian flu was reported Monday in Louisiana, while California is battling a major outbreak of the virus in its dairy cattle herds.
The U.S. has developed a bird flu vaccine that can be prepared when needed. It’s not currently available because health officials haven’t deemed it necessary.
The BC Centre for Disease Control says it is comparing the genetic features of a local teenager's avian flu case with that of a Louisiana patient who died earlier this week.