A man, who had to be taken off a plane after it was diverted to Edmonton, has been found to have H7 antibodies in his system – which means the man, at some point, had been exposed to the virus.
The U.S. citizen was travelling from Dubai to San Francisco, when his plane had to make an emergency landing in Edmonton.
While health officials believe he may have suffered a diabetic coma on the flight – which was not related to the H7 flu virus. However, routine tests found antibodies for the virus in the man’s system, which means he was exposed to the virus at some point.
According to health officials, the man had spent time travelling in China, Singapore and India – and they said he became so ill while in India that he spent some time in intensive care.
“That history was consistent, maybe he was infected with the H7N9, which is why the attending physician actually ordered the test,” Dr. Gregory Taylor, acting public health officer of the public health agency of Canada said.
That said, it’s not clear if the antibodies found in the man’s system were related to H7N9 strain that has killed 39 people, and infected more than 100 people in China.
“It only takes a plane ride, that’s how SARS came to Canada several years ago,” Dr. Taylor said. “We’re on the watch and doing the best we can to protect Canadians against infections.”
The man did not show any signs of flu symptoms on board the plane, and officials said no other passengers, or medical staff was at risk.
Health officials are also telling Canadians, if someone infected with the H7N9 flu made it into Canada, the chances of it spreading are low – that particular virus is not spread easily from person to person.
After his ordeal, the man is still being treated in an Edmonton hospital – he has a history of chronic medical conditions, and officials are planning on sending him back to the United States soon.
With files from Amanda Anderson
