Health
Bird flu leaves teen in critical condition after country's first reported case
A teenager has been left in critical condition after contracting the first presumptive human case of avian influenza (H5N1, or bird flu) in Canada.
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the patient’s status at a news conference Tuesday, noting that the teen was healthy “prior to this, so no underlying conditions.”
“It just reminds us that in young people, this is a virus that can progress and cause quite severe illness, and the deterioration that I mentioned was quite rapid,” she said.
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Canada’s Health Minister Mark Holland confirmed the first human case in a post on X last week.
“To date, there has been no evidence of person-to-person spread of the virus in any of the cases identified globally,” he wrote. “Based on current evidence in Canada, the risk to the general public remains low.”
Holland also noted that the Public Health Agency of Canada is working with the BC (British Columbia) Centre of Disease Control and Office of the Provincial Health Officer, and that the agencies “will remain in close contact to protect Canadians.”
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The BC government wrote in a press release last week that a “public-health investigation has been initiated to determine the source of exposure and identify any contacts.”
“The source of exposure is very likely to be an animal or bird, and is being investigated by B.C.’s chief veterinarian and public health teams,” the province stated.
Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the potential H5N1 infection in Canada is “concerning” for two reasons.
The British Columbia teenager is reportedly being treated at BC Children’s Hospital. (iStock)
“First, the individual is hospitalized, which suggests a more severe infection than we have typically seen in the U.S.,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Assuming they do not have underlying health conditions, it’s uncommon for teenagers to be hospitalized for an influenza infection.”
This also represents the first known locally acquired H5N1 infection in Canadian history, Scarpino noted.
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“Reading between the lines in the official press release from British Columbia, it sounds as though they have reason to suspect the hospitalized individual may have had recent contact with livestock and/or wildlife, suggesting they were infected via spillover from an animal host,” he said.
“However, if evidence emerges of possible human-to-human transmission, that would raise the threat level considerably.”
Evidence of potential human-to-human transmission of bird flu would “raise the threat level considerably,” Scarpino said. (iStock)
Regardless of how this infection occurred, Scarpino said, “It’s becoming more and more clear that H5N1 has become a persistent threat in North America.”
In the U.S., as of Nov. 8, there were a total of 46 confirmed reported human cases of bird flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A majority of the U.S. cases have been in California (21), Washington (11) and Colorado (10).
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Earlier this month, a CDC study revealed that among farm workers who were exposed to H5N1-infected dairy cattle, 7% had bird flu antibodies. This suggests that they were previously infected with the virus.
Based on these findings, the CDC is calling for “active monitoring of exposed workers and testing to detect and treat HPAI A(H5) infections, including those in persons with very mild symptoms.”
Last week, a CDC study revealed that among farm workers who were exposed to H5N1-infected dairy cattle, 7% had bird flu antibodies. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The agency also recommends expanded access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for farm workers.
“It’s clear we need broader, more systematic serosurveillance efforts and to triangulate the results of those studies with clinical and wastewater surveillance data,” Scarpino told Fox News Digital.
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“We also need to offer H5N1 vaccines to dairy farm workers and ensure they have access to proper PPE … We can’t afford to keep letting this virus spill over into humans,” he went on.
“It’s only a matter of time before someone dies an unnecessary death and/or we start seeing human-to-human transmission.”
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Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.
TOP 3:
– A doctor in Michigan reveals his wellness routine for a longer and healthier life
– As RFK Jr. sets out to improve nutrition for American children, Dr. Marc Siegel comments on the challenges ahead
– Bird flu is ‘getting worse’ across the country as cases rise, according to experts
“We have a generation of kids who are swimming around in a toxic soup right now,” Kennedy previously told Fox News. “We’re letting these industries corrupt our agencies and mass poison them.” (iStock)
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Humans may have reached their max life expectancy, according to a recent Harvard study — but that’s likely not going to stop them from trying to extend their years.
A recent poll found that 81% of respondents reported being “somewhat or very willing” to spend money to live longer — although many are unsure of where to start.
Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan, is committed to helping people live not only their longest, but also their healthiest lives.
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As a physician with a background in functional medicine, Zalzala worked to find and treat the root causes of symptoms and illness — which led him into the longevity space.
In 2019, he launched AgelessRx to try to “solve the puzzle of aging.”
Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan, shares his secrets to living a longer, healthier life. (Dr. Sajad Zalzala / AgelessRX)
Zalzala spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the hallmarks of aging and what he sees as the most important components of a longer, healthier life.
The hallmarks of aging
While the aging process can look different for different people, researchers have identified some “common denominators” of cellular and molecular aging, which Zalzala shared with Fox News Digital.
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1. Genomic instability: This occurs when damaged DNA leads to diseases like cancer and weakens the body’s ability to heal, according to the doctor.
2. Telomere attrition: Shorter telomeres (DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome) are what cause visible aging signs like wrinkles and slower cell regeneration.
3. Epigenetic alteration: This is when environmental factors alter gene function, accelerating skin aging and metabolic issues, Zalzala said.
4. Loss of proteostasis: “Misfolded proteins contribute to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s,” the doctor said.
5. Mitochondrial dysfunction: Reduced energy production leads to fatigue and muscle weakness, according to Zalzala.
6. Deregulated nutrient sensing: “Dysfunction in regulating metabolism and controlling energy production is a cause of why we age,” the doctor said.
7. Cellular senescence: With this phenomenon, cells stop dividing, causing aging signs like thinning skin and age spots.
8. Stem cell exhaustion: “Fewer stem cells result in gray hair and slower tissue repair,” Zalzala noted.
9. Altered intercellular communication: Poor cell communication weakens tissue health and immune responses, according to the doctor.
10. Disabled macroautophagy: This is a slowdown of the process that provides metabolites and energy to cells, according to ScienceDirect.
11. Chronic inflammation: As people grow older, an increase in inflammation is directly linked to the development of many diseases and effects of aging, experts agree.
12. Dysbiosis: This condition causes an imbalance in the microscopic organisms within the body, which can have negative impacts on health, per Cleveland Clinic.
Many of the hallmarks of aging can be addressed through behavioral changes, the doctor said. (iStock)
Many of these hallmarks can be addressed through behavioral changes, Zalzala said.
“A lot of things can be benefited by lifestyle,” he said. “For example, eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation, and that accelerates the aging process.”
5 cornerstones of health
The doctor shared some of his habits in each of the five “buckets” of healthy living.
1. Eating right
Zalzala follows a “Paleo-like” diet, which consists mainly of whole foods like vegetables, low-glycemic fruits and lean protein.
“I stay away from excessively processed foods, excessive sweets, and foods with too many starches or simple sugars,” he said.
“Eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation and accelerates the aging process.”
There’s a lot of debate about whether grains are healthy, Zalzala noted. He tends to avoid them.
“From a pure health perspective, I don’t think there’s much nutritional value in them,” he said.
When it comes to fruit, not all are created equal, according to Zalzala.
Zalzala follows a “Paleo-like” diet, which consists mainly of whole foods like vegetables, low-glycemic fruits and lean protein. (iStock)
“Bananas and grapes are high-glycemic foods — you want to stick to low-glycemic fruits such as berries and cherries.”
The doctor also abstains from drinking alcohol.
“Alcohol is not very good for longevity, and I would recommend limiting it,” he said. “More studies seem to show that there’s really no good level of alcohol consumption.”
2. Staying active
While Zalzala said he’s “not a huge exercise guy,” he does recognize the importance of physical activity in slowing down aging.
He uses a walking desk in his office for a couple of hours each day, and he does martial arts classes with his teenage son.
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The doctor also spends 20 or 30 minutes per day doing a mix of exercises, including riding a stationary bike, using a rowing machine and lifting free weights.
“I try to get a little bit of cardio and a little bit of weight resistance training each day,” Zalzala said.
3. Choosing the right medications
While Zalzala said he is “very comfortable” with medications, they should be prescribed carefully based on each person’s individual health goals.
One medication he regularly takes is metformin, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
While the aging process can look different for different people, researchers have identified some “common denominators” of cellular and molecular aging. (iStock)
Some studies have shown that metformin could help to promote longevity and better health outcomes, the doctor said.
“I started taking it mostly for prevention, as I’ve always struggled with my weight,” Zalzala said.
The doctor has also recently started taking rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug that has been heralded for its potential longevity-boosting properties.
“Having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
Zalzala also sometimes takes acarbose, an anti-diabetic medication that helps to regulate blood sugar.
“When I do eat starches and carbs, I try to take acarbose to limit some of the blood sugar spikes that can occur — and it also helps improve the microbiome,” he said.
While Zalzala said he is “very comfortable” with medications, they should be prescribed carefully based on each person’s individual health goals. (iStock)
Most recently, Zalzala started taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) to help keep his cholesterol at a healthy level.
“I have a family history of heart disease, and I just couldn’t get my LDL cholesterol down with diet and exercise,” he said.
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The doctor occasionally takes NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is a coenzyme that helps to regulate metabolism.
“Aging or certain disease conditions can drain the body of NAD+, so I take it here and there when I feel drained and need an energy boost,” he said.
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“There’s been more and more data showing that keeping youthful energy levels can help with all sorts of things, so I take it as needed for mitochondrial support and also for general longevity.”
4. Supplementing for health
Zalzala has always been an advocate of supplements to promote healthier living.
“Over the years, I’ve tried a bunch of different supplements — I always like to try things on myself, see how I feel, see how it moves the marker.”
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Vitamin D is among the most important supplements, he said.
Studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can help to improve bone health, brain health and immune function, among other benefits.
Studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can help to improve bone health, brain health and immune function. (iStock)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone produced in the adrenal gland, is another of his top picks. Some studies have shown that DHEA helps to reduce abdominal fat, improve insulin resistance and reduce inflammation in the arteries.
The doctor also takes Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant supplement, to counter the potential downsides of his heart medication.
“If you can’t get your sleep right, very few things matter, because it will throw off your metabolism and all your hormones,” the doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“As long as somebody is free of any major diseases, I think most supplements won’t do any harm and could have benefit if taken intelligently,” he said.
It’s important to talk with a doctor before starting a new medication, supplement or exercise program, the doctor emphasized.
5. Improving sleep hygiene
One of the most important and overlooked aspects of health, according to Zalzala, is sleep.
“If you can’t get your sleep right, very few things matter, because it will throw off your metabolism and all your hormones,” he told Fox News Digital.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“So having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
If someone suffers from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, it’s essential to talk to a doctor about ways to improve sleep, the doctor advised.
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