Critical Illness in an Adolescent with Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection

This correspondence details a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection in a 13-year-old girl in British Columbia, Canada. The patient experienced rapid deterioration, including respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and hematologic abnormalities. She required intensive interventions including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), renal replacement therapy, and combination antiviral therapy. Molecular diagnostics confirmed H5N1 infection and genomic analysis identified viral mutations associated with human adaptation. The report highlights the clinical course, virological findings, and public health implications of zoonotic influenza transmission in North America

This correspondence details a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection in a 13-year-old girl in British Columbia, Canada. The patient experienced rapid deterioration, including respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and hematologic abnormalities. She required intensive interventions including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), renal replacement therapy, and combination antiviral therapy. Molecular diagnostics confirmed H5N1 infection and genomic analysis identified viral mutations associated with human adaptation. The report highlights the clinical course, virological findings, and public health implications of zoonotic influenza transmission in North America