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| First N America H5N1 avian flu death confirmed in Canada | First N America H5N1 avian flu death confirmed in Canada |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Canadian health officials have confirmed the first known fatal case of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in North America. | Canadian health officials have confirmed the first known fatal case of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in North America. |
| Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the deceased was a resident of Alberta who had recently travelled to Beijing. | Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the deceased was a resident of Alberta who had recently travelled to Beijing. |
| Calling the death an "isolated case", Ms Ambrose said the risk to the general population was low. | Calling the death an "isolated case", Ms Ambrose said the risk to the general population was low. |
| The province of Alberta has seen 10 deaths this season from swine flu, or H1N1. | |
| H5N1 infects the lower respiratory tract deep in the lung where it can cause deadly pneumonia. Officials have stressed that it is not a disease transmitted between humans. | |
| The infected person first showed symptoms of the flu on an Air Canada flight from Beijing to Vancouver on 27 December, the officials said. | |
| The passenger continued on to Edmonton and on 1 January was admitted to hospital and died two days later. | |
| Canadian federal health officials said they would not identify the patient's sex, age or occupation. |