This is a case unusual
explains the province’s chief medical officer of health, Bonnie Henry, since all the cases reported in the province come from people who have traveled to China.
The young woman in her thirties lives in the Fraser region. It was upon her return to Canadian territory a few days ago that she began to experience the symptoms of COVID-19.
This new case arouses interest
health authorities in British Columbia, but also specialists who study this virus worldwide
says Ms. Henry.
Most cases from China were mild, so this could be an indicator of more widespread transmission
, she says.
The chief medical officer explains that Iran has recently started reporting cases of people infected with COVID-19. The country has recorded two deaths from contamination from this epidemic.
The provincial health authorities are working with their national and international colleagues to better understand where the risks lie
linked to this infection and are trying to determine where the woman may have been exposed to this virus before returning to Canada
, she says.
Dr. Henry also hopes that this case will lead to an international investigation into the spread of the virus in other countries.
The World Health Organization has been informed of this new case and I expect there will be an international investigation to try to understand where the exhibition occurred
, she says.
We take things very seriously at national and international level
, adds Adrian Dix, Minister of Health for British Columbia.
If the tests on this new person are confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, British Columbia will register their sixth case of COVID-19.
The provincial authorities are however already convinced that it is a coronavirus infection
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