A year of elections and digital repression in South Asia: 2024 in focus

Several governments expanded their control over online spaces

Written byRezwan

Posted 2 January 2025 

Countries in the South Asian region. Image via Wikipedia by Iktsokh. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Home to 2.07 billion people, South Asian countries account for a quarter of the global population. The region faces many challenges, including steep population growth, rapid urbanization, high poverty rates, and income inequality. Also, it grapples with governance issues, like the backsliding of democracy, rising authoritarianism, and crucial elections, along with economic issues like increasing unemployment, growing inflation, mounting external debt, and more.

While there were numerous significant stories and developments from this region in 2024, Global Voices was able to cover select aspects through our dedicated community of writers and translators. Here is a summary of our coverage for South Asia in 2024, highlighting the different measures several governments took to expand their control over online spaces amid elections and political unrest.

A year of crucial elections

There were several crucial elections in South Asian countries in 2024. On January 7th, the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) secured a fourth consecutive term in a one-sided election, which the opposition and its allies boycotted. However, the new government was short-lived. Starting in July 2024, a student-led uprising, supported by hundreds of thousands of citizens, stood up to state repression and the authoritarianism of the Sheikh Hasina government. The escalating unrest led to anarchy, resulting in her resignation and departure from the country on August 5th, 2024.

People cheering in front of the Prime Minister's office following Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Image by Md Joni Hossain Via Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Check out our special coverage: Turmoil in Bangladesh

The February 8 general elections in Pakistan were regarded as one of the least credible elections of the year due to allegations of vote rigging, internet shutdowns, and delays in announcing results. The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) formed a coalition government along with several independent candidates, while independent candidates loyal to imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed an opposition alliance. The Election Commission of Pakistan revoked PTI's electoral symbol in December 2023, forcing their candidates to run independently.

In June 2024, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Indian general elections, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third term, further consolidating his power.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front), became the ninth executive president of Sri Lanka, winning the September 2024 presidential election.

Social media and cybertroops

Over 52.90 million social media users in Bangladesh, mostly on Facebook, became targets of political parties pushing their narratives. Through weaponized misinformation and disinformation, the ruling Awami League (AL) highlighted progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, often using fake articles and maligning the opposition, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) spread stories of democracy being under threat, rallying followers to resist authoritarianism.

In a Transparency report, Meta reported deleting 50 Facebook accounts and 98 pages from Bangladesh in the first quarter of 2024 for spreading misinformation about the opposition. TikTok reported the removal of over 2,300 accounts from Bangladesh in January alone for attempting to manipulate election narratives. In several instances, the use of AI and deepfakes were also reported.

Protest of PTI supporters in London echoing Imran Khan's call for free and fair elections in Pakistan. Image via Flickr by Alisdare Hickson. CC BY-SA 2.0.

In Pakistan, political parties like the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Pakistan Muslim League N (PMLN) used social media for their election campaigns, significantly impacting voters. Pakistan's imprisoned leader and former prime minister Imran Khan was seen delivering speeches from his jail cell using artificial intelligence (AI).

With over 800 million internet users, India leads globally Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp usage, prompting political parties to utilize social media influencers to amplify their messages. To appeal to a young, hyper-online population, political parties have mobilized thousands of influencers, including gamers, who were able to connect with diverse demographics. Various cartoons, memes, and trolls were also used to push different electoral narratives. The IT cell of the ruling BJP had a history of using data analytics and social media strategies, as demonstrated in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Reports indicate the use of an app called Saral to collect detailed user data ahead of the 2024 elections.

Before the September 2024 elections in Sri Lanka, the leading presidential candidates used social media extensively for campaigns and political narratives focusing on various issues and targets. Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa published an analysis using a dataset of over 4,000 tweets associated with Presidential candidates Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW), Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), and Sajith Premadasa (SP), depicting how social media crafts polished and ideal personalities. While these characterizations can often be perceived as authentic, this depiction risks being manipulative.

Sri Lanka has approximately eight and a half million Facebook users, many of whom use the platform to discuss elections, politics, and candidates. Using Meta's new Content Library (MCL), Dr. Hattotuwa analyzed the three most popular posts and approximately 1,500 comments each from the official Facebook accounts of presidential candidates RW, SP, and AKD over a 30-day period. The analysis mapped how these candidates are perceived by their core fan base, and the results presented a snapshot of how contemporary political discourse is constructed.

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake in 2023. Photo by Bunty456 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Digital repression as a tool for authoritarianism

There were no major internet disruptions in Bangladesh during the January elections except for a few website blocks. However, during the July protests, mobile internet was shut down intermittently from July 16–August 5, along with bans on several social media platforms. A nationwide complete internet shutdown occurred between July 18 and 23, accompanied by media blackouts that nearly severed all communications with Bangladesh. These measures had a negative impact online as the spread of misinformation and disinformation became rampant.

Pakistan further tightened its restrictions on dissent and free speech this year. Before the February elections, authorities imposed a series of internet shutdowns. Pakistanis faced difficulties accessing the platform X (formerly Twitter) since the February elections, and in April 2024, the government acknowledged banning the platform, citing national security concerns. In August, Pakistan deployed a national firewall to track, block, or restrict content deemed propaganda. While Pakistanis were accessing blocked sites and platforms using VPNs, on November 16, authorities directed the Pakistan Telecom Authority to block unregistered VPNs in an effort to “curb access to terrorist, pornographic, and blasphemous content.” As X users began migrating to Bluesky, another social media platform, reports of blocking that platform emerged in November.

Image by Giovana Fleck, used with permission.

A Civic Media Observatory analysis reveals how the Indian government has actively expanded its control over online spaces in recent years, using website blocking as a key strategy. A March 2024 report by digital rights group Geeks for Geeks noted that over 55,000 websites were blocked in the past decade, with 48 percent blocked under the IT Act. The targets included independent news outlets, hate speech trackers, and streaming platforms.

In January 2024, Sri Lanka introduced the Online Safety Act, which grants an “Online Safety Commission” broad powers to define “prohibited statements,” recommend content removal, and disable access for offenders. Amnesty International deemed it a major blow to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

Elon Musk’s Influence on Asian Satellite Development: South Korea and Indonesia

Asia's need for better internet access drives satellite technology development, but the region still struggles with infrastructure, especially in remote areas.

ByDarynaufal Mulyaman
January 2, 2025

MODERN DIPLOMACY

photo: unsplash



Asia’s need for better internet access drives satellite technology development, but the region still struggles with infrastructure, especially in remote areas. This “digital divide” hinders economic and social progress in countries like South Korea and Indonesia. The development of satellite technology in Asia continues to increase in line with the need for wider and more equitable internet access. However, the region still faces significant challenges in terms of technological infrastructure, especially in remote areas that are not yet fully accessible by the internet. This digital divide is a major obstacle in optimizing the economic and social potential of Asian countries, including South Korea and Indonesia. Amid these conditions, South Korea appeared brave by launching the 425 satellite project. This satellite successfully orbited after being carried by Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket on December 23, 2024. Elon Musk is also the owner of the Starlink internet service. Against this background, this opinion aims to discuss Elon Musk’s influence on satellite governance in Asia on the investment and technology side, as well as its impact on Asian countries, such as South Korea and Indonesia.

In terms of investment, Asia is an attractive region for the technology sector, especially with the rapid growth of the digital economy. Elon Musk’s presence in this region not only has an impact on improving space services and internet accessibility but also on the technology investment sector which has the potential to provide an impetus for the development of digital infrastructure. SpaceX and Starlink offers an opportunity to accelerate the development of satellite technology in the region while strengthening the digital ecosystem through collaboration with local companies. The importance of strong infrastructure and technological innovation is also aligned with the 9th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which focus on sustainable industrial development, innovation, and infrastructure.

South Korea has taken a significant step with Project 425, a government initiative to launch five military reconnaissance satellites by 2025. These satellites will enhance surveillance capabilities, particularly in response to North Korean threats. SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, launched the first of these satellites on December 23, 2024, using its reliable and cost-effective Falcon 9 rockets. This partnership highlights the increasing use of commercial space launch providers and promotes international collaboration in science and technology, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

The partnership between South Korea and SpaceX exemplifies international collaboration in the space sector. Such collaborations are essential for sharing knowledge, reducing costs, and accelerating technological progress, aligning with SDG 9’s emphasis on promoting international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. South Korea’s reliance on SpaceX for launch services reflects a growing trend of governments utilizing commercial space launch providers. This trend is transforming the space industry, making space access more affordable and accessible. The successful collaboration between South Korea and SpaceX on Project 425 could pave the way for future collaborations in other space-related projects, such as joint space exploration missions or the development of new space technologies.

The table summarizing the different perspectives on Elon Musk between the two countries is as follows,
Feature South Korea Indonesia
Primary Motivation National security Economic development and digital inclusion
Main Area of Collaboration SpaceX (launch services for Project 425) Starlink (internet connectivity) and potential Tesla (EV investment)
Emphasis Reliability, cost-effectiveness, advanced technology Investment, job creation, infrastructure development
Existing Infrastructure Advanced technological infrastructure Developing infrastructure
Overall Goal Enhance national security and technological capabilities Boost economic growth, improve connectivity, and promote sustainable development


After the story of South Korea, there is also another story from Indonesia. In Indonesia, Musk’s innovation is still limited to internet availability through the Starlink service. The Starlink service initiated by Elon Musk has emerged as a leading innovation in providing satellite-based internet access. Starlink is designed to reach areas that are difficult to reach by traditional internet infrastructure. Its existence in the Southeast Asian region can be an effective solution to overcome the problem of internet access, open up new opportunities for the development of satellite technology, and encourage digital-based economic growth in various countries, especially Indonesia.

Indonesia’s experience with Musk’s innovations is primarily focused on Starlink, his satellite internet service. Starlink offers a potential solution to Indonesia’s connectivity challenges, especially in remote areas. It could boost digital economic growth and improve access to essential services like education and healthcare. This aligns with SDG 9 by promoting inclusive and equitable connectivity.

Starlink, as a service that can accelerate internet access throughout Indonesia, can contribute to the achievement of this goal, especially in improving more inclusive and equitable connectivity. For Indonesia, the impact of Starlink’s presence is very potential. In addition to opening up new jobs in the technology and telecommunications sectors, increased access to the wider internet could bring about positive changes in important sectors such as education, healthcare, and business. Indonesia, as one of the countries with a relatively low level of internet access in the Southeast Asian region, can take advantage of the presence of Starlink to encourage digital transformation nationally.

However, the implementation of Starlink in Indonesia also faces various challenges. Policies, regulations, and readiness of local infrastructure are important issues that must be overcome so that these services can run optimally. In addition, the readiness of countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, to absorb this new technology needs to be the main concern so that the benefits can be felt to the maximum. Indonesia’s complex and fluid ecosystem as well as shady governance have caused Elon Musk’s innovations in Indonesia to appear different from what has been achieved between Elon Musk and South Korea. Starlink in Indonesia also does not seem to be welcomed in a friendly manner because it is feared that it can improve local connections and develop development wheels at the regional and even local levels in Indonesia, to remote areas such as outermost, frontier, and disadvantaged areas. It is evidenced by the Starlink ceremonial service which was later not reactivated and is based on individuals who use Starlink services.

In conclusion, Starlink’s implementation in Indonesia faces hurdles. Policy, regulation, existing infrastructure limitations, and the country’s capacity to adopt new technology are key challenges. There are also concerns that Starlink could bypass existing local providers and that its implementation has been inconsistent. Unlike the smooth collaboration between South Korea and SpaceX, Starlink’s introduction in Indonesia has faced resistance and uncertainty.


Darynaufal Mulyaman
Dary is an active lecturer at International Relations Study Program, Universitas Kristen Indonesia. He is currently the director of Center for Securities and Foreign Affairs Studies (CESFAS) at the university. His research interests include Korean studies, Asia Pacific region, third world, international development, cooperation, and political economy.

Al Jazeera slams Palestinian Authority's decision to suspend its work in West Bank

Qatar-based broadcaster says Palestinian Authority's decision is 'in line with (Israeli) occupation’s action against its staff'

Ahmed Asmar |02.01.2025 -  TRT/AA



ANKARA

Al Jazeera news channel on Thursday denounced the decision of the Palestinian Authority to “freeze” its work in the occupied West Bank, calling it a move that is “in line with the (Israeli) occupation’s actions against its staff.”

In a statement, Al Jazeera Media Network said the decision is "an attempt to hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, especially what is happening in Jenin and its camps."

Palestinian security forces launched a security operation nearly one month ago against what they called "outlaws" in the Jenin refugee camp. The operation has prompted several Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to accuse the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah of targeting resistance fighters in the camp.

Al Jazeera said that the decision of the Palestinian Authority came following an "ongoing campaign of incitement and intimidation by parties associated with the Palestinian Authority" against Al Jazeera's journalists.

It held the Palestinian Authority "fully responsible for the safety and security of all its employees in the West Bank," and asked it "to immediately retract and cancel" the decision.

Late on Tuesday, a Palestinian Authority's ministerial committee emphasized that the suspension would remain in effect until Al Jazeera “complies fully with Palestinian laws and regulations.”

The move followed a series of public campaigns by Palestinian Authority officials and affiliated groups on social media criticizing Al Jazeera’s coverage of recent clashes between Palestinian security forces and resistance groups in the Jenin refugee camp.

Last May, the Israeli government also approved a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi to shut down Al Jazeera’s offices across Israel. The decision was enacted immediately under the so-called “Al Jazeera Law.”

Jeju Air and Muan airport operator raided over fatal South Korea plane crash

Police search for records related to plane’s maintenance and airport operations

Namita Singh
Thursday 02 January 2025 
Independent

South Korean police raided Jeju Air and the operator of the Muan airport as they ramped up their investigation into Sunday’s catastrophic plane crash that claimed 179 lives, marking the worst aviation disaster in the country’s recent history.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashlanded after failing to deploy its landing gear, skidded off the runway at the Muan airport and rammed into a concrete embankment.

The plane burst into flames, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. The survivors, crew members seated at the rear, suffered injuries but were rescued.

Investigators searched Jeju Air’s Seoul office as well as facilities belonging to the airport operator and the transport ministry’s aviation division in Muan for records related to the plane’s maintenance and airport operations. A police official said the probe aimed to uncover potential failures in operational and safety protocols.

The airline said it was reviewing the situation while the airport operator was yet to issue a comment.


open image in galleryThe Boeing plane was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it crashed on arrival on 29 December 2024 (AFP via Getty)

In the wake of the crash, aviation safety experts expressed concerns about the embankment the plane rammed into, questioning the design of the structure designed to support navigation equipment.

“This rigid structure proved catastrophic when the skidding aircraft made impact,” Najmedin Meshkati, engineering professor at the University of Southern California, said.

Such installations should use lighter materials such as metal towers to minimise damage during collisions, he said.

Investigators were also examining whether the embankment should have been constructed from lighter materials to reduce its potential danger.

The incident was also under investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing, in collaboration with South Korean authorities.

Preliminary analysis indicated the aircraft encountered multiple issues, including a bird strike and an engine problem, before the crash.

A video of the crash showed the aircraft belly-landing at speed and bursting into flames after hitting the concrete wall. The pilot had declared an emergency after warning of a bird strike but reportedly attempted a second landing without success.

Black boxes found in the wreckage were being analysed. While the cockpit voice recorder’s data was expected to be turned into audio files by Friday, the damaged flight data recorder was dispatched to the US for examination.

Transport ministry officials said the audio files might not be publicly released due to the sensitivity of the investigation.

Acting president Choi Sang Mok, meanwhile, ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in South Korea. “Given the public concern, thorough reviews of operation, maintenance, and training procedures must be prioritised,” Mr Choi said during a disaster management meeting.


The tragedy sparked a week of national mourning. Save for two Thai citizens, the victims of the crash were all South Koreans, many of them returning home from holidays in Bangkok.

Bereaved relatives held a memorial service at the site of the crash on New Year’s Day, laying white flowers and offering traditional rice cake soup in tribute to their loved ones.

Did the Ottomans silence the media? 

MEMO in Conversation with Nir Shafir

Pamphlets were the social media of their time, they helped spread dissent and were pivotal to the polarisation of politics during the Ottoman Empire, Nir Shafir guides us through the communications revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries.

January 1, 2025



The Ottoman Empire banned the printing press and stifled intellectual and economic development in the Middle East due to religious objections. At least this has been the popular narrative about the Ottomans for decades, despite the fact there is no evidence of a ban and throughout the empire’s history, different printing presses emerged. However, the print press would not take off in a major way until the 18th century, but that does not mean a communication revolution did not occur in the Islamic world. Indeed the pamphlet took off across the empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, leading a radical transformation in ideas, identities, politics and to the creation of a public square. Pamphlets were the social media of their day and, much like today, they were pivotal to the polarisation of politics in the Empire. The Kadizadeli, a new religious movement, emerged through the pamphlet, fermenting dissent and discord. A new book ‘The Order and Disorder of Communication: Pamphlets and Polemics in the Seventeenth-Century Ottoman Empire‘ takes us into the world of Ottoman polarisation. To discuss the book and the communication revolution during the Ottoman Empire MEMO in Conversation is joined by author Nir Shafir.

Shafir is an associate professor of history at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) whose work focuses on the Ottoman Empire/Middle East from 1200 to 1800. At UCSD, he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on the history of the early modern and medieval Middle East, the history of science, global history and historical approaches to disinformation, misinformation and propaganda. He is an occasional contributor and editorial board member of the Ottoman History Podcast and served as its editor in 2018. Future projects include a social history of the Turkish language in the Ottoman Empire and an investigation into the cultural role of antiquity and antiquarianism in the early modern Middle East.

Discovery of rare new fossil sheds light on New Zealand’s extinct dolphin-like reptiles

Interestingly, this specimen appears to be unrelated to the ichthyosaurs of Western Gondwana, in modern-day South America

Our Bureau And Agencies Published 01.01.25,

Historically important Ichthyosaurus figure at Crystal Palace Park (1854)WIKIPEDIA

Ichthyosaurs were reptiles that swam in the seas during the time of the dinosaurs. They evolved separately around 250 million years ago, possibly from a crocodile-like ancestor, to resemble fish and modern dolphins.

Then, they went extinct around 94 million years ago.

In 2010, palaeontologist James Crampton discovered a partial ichthyosaur skeleton while working on Coverham Station in the Clarence Valley, inland North Canterbury. This specimen dates back to the Cenomanian stage during the Late Cretaceous epoch just under 100 million years ago.

The skeleton was encased within a hard concretion and was taken from Coverham to be stored and catalogued at GNS Science until 2021. It was identified as an ichthyosaur because of the characteristic hourglass shaped vertebrae

Our detailed study now sheds further light on this specimen, which is more complete than any other known ichthyosaur skeleton from New Zealand.

Before this discovery, the only Cretaceous ichthyosaur material found in New Zealand was a small fragment of a jaw and a few vertebrae, all from different individuals, and all from the North Island. This find significantly advanced our understanding of these dolphin-like reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Medical scanner reveals bones within rocks

The ichthyosaurs of New Zealand have remained poorly understood due to the lack of well-preserved specimens. This fossil promises to change the narrative.

Expert fossil expert Al Mannering meticulously prepared the find so it could be scanned using a medical CT scanner to image the bones that were too difficult to prepare.

Each bone was then rendered in 3D to study its morphology using a technique known as virtual preparation. The fossils included a part of the base of the skull, parts of the shoulder and front flipper, as well as a complete left pelvis and most of a hind flipper. Many vertebrae and flipper bones were also present in the concretion.

This discovery is particularly exciting because the specimen is about 98 million years old. This is about four million years before the final extinction of ichthyosaurs, which makes it one of the youngest semi-complete ichthyosaur skeletons known.

The fossil is essential for understanding ichthyosaur diversity in New Zealand. These ancient reptiles have not been studied as comprehensively as in the northern hemisphere due to the fragmentary nature of most specimens.

The pelvis is also very rarely preserved in Cretaceous ichthyosaurs, especially this close to their final demise. This provides much needed additional data about what they looked like and how they differed from species around the world. We can see that it was different from the hip bones of other species.

Surprising evolutionary links

Although the specimen is too fragmentary to be formally named, it exhibits several distinctive features.

These include an extremely simplified base of the skull and a scapula (shoulder blade) with a prominently flared head and a strap-like shaft. There is also a distinct furrow on one of the pelvic bones, something not seen in any other species.

The well-preserved pelvis and hind fin of this specimen provide valuable information, contributing to our limited knowledge about Cretaceous ichthyosaurs.

Together, these characteristics indicate this specimen is part of the family Platypterygiidae and most closely related to the Australian species Platypterygius australis and various other European Cretaceous ichthyosaurs.

Interestingly, this specimen appears to be unrelated to the ichthyosaurs of Western Gondwana, in modern-day South America. This was unexpected, as 98 million years ago South America and New Zealand were certainly closer to each other than to Europe.

This suggests the species in New Zealand may have remained separate from those in South America, hinting at potential regionalism among the Gondwanan Cretaceous ichthyosaur populations.

This contradicts what is seen in the slightly younger fossils of other marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, which show evolutionary links between South America, Antarctica and New Zealand. It is possible these links began after ichthyosaurs became extinct.

This discovery enriches the known diversity of southern hemisphere and Australasian ichthyosaurs. It highlights the more regionalised distribution of these marine reptiles around the margins of Gondwana in the late Cretaceous.

JAMES ROLLINS Subterranean Summary & Study Guide

BC Teen Hospitalized for Bird Flu Shows 'Worrisome' Change in People

NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 01, 2025 

A Canadian teen who contracted the H5N1 bird flu in early November has fully recovered after a prolonged battle with the disease.

However, genetic analysis of the virus that infected her revealed alarming mutations that could potentially enhance the virus's ability to target human cells and cause severe illness.

Why It Matters

The discovery, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has raised concerns about the evolving nature of H5N1 and its increasing threat to human health.

With 66 human cases reported in the U.S. in 2024, experts are increasingly worried about the virus's evolving potential and its implications for future outbreaks.

Notices are displayed at Swanpool Nature Reserve warning of cases of bird flu on November 7, 2022, in Falmouth, Cornwall, England. A Canadian teen who contracted H5N1 bird flu in November 2024 has fully recovered

Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images

What To Know

The 13-year-old girl, who had a history of asthma and obesity, arrived at a local emergency room on November 4 with conjunctivitis and fever. After being discharged without treatment, her condition worsened over the next few days, leading to respiratory distress and other complications. She was hospitalized on November 7, and by the following day, was transferred to a pediatric ICU, suffering from severe respiratory failure, pneumonia and acute kidney injury.

Despite being negative for common seasonal flu strains, she tested positive for influenza A and H5N1, leading doctors to suspect bird flu. Her condition continued to deteriorate, requiring intubation and ECMO life support. She was treated with three antiviral medications, and because of concerns about a cytokine storm, underwent plasma exchange therapy.

By November 16, her viral load had dropped significantly, and she was free of the virus after eight days of intensive care. Genetic sequencing of the virus revealed mutations in the strain she had contracted, specifically the D1.1 version of H5N1, which is closely related to the virus found in wild birds. The mutations appeared to enhance the virus's ability to replicate in human cells, suggesting a troubling potential for increased severity in human infections.

Other cases of H5N1 infection in the U.S., particularly those involving dairy cows and poultry, have shown the same mutated strain. Researchers believe these mutations likely emerged in the patients themselves rather than circulating in the environment, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Read more Bird Flu

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What People Are Saying

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, told the L.A. Times: "It is worrisome because it indicates that the virus can change in a person and possibly cause a greater severity of symptoms than initial infection."

Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine and infectious disease expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told NBC News: "I think if there were clear and definitive evidence that the virus has mutated to the point that it can bind to the binding receptors in the upper respiratory tract, meaning the lining of the nose, the lining of the throat, the lining of the windpipe and therefore reproduce itself in the upper respiratory tract, that would be worrisome. But that's not what the report said."
What Happens Next

The discovery of the mutations in the H5N1 virus calls for further surveillance and research to track how the virus may evolve in human hosts. Public health experts are urging increased monitoring of both animal and human cases to detect any potential for further mutations that could pose a greater threat to global health.

Researchers are also calling for more robust response strategies in case the virus continues to adapt in ways that enhance its ability to cause severe disease.

B.C. teen with Canada's first human case of avian flu no longer in ICU

Chickens are seen at a poultry farm in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday, November 10, 2022. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

Andrew Weichel
CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
 Jan. 1, 2025 

The B.C. teenager who became infected with Canada's first human case of H5N1 avian influenza was transferred out of intensive care and taken off supplemental oxygen last month.

While health officials have not provided any updates on the case since November, new details were published Tuesday(opens in a new tab) in the New England Journal of Medicine, in a report signed by doctors from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, and B.C. Children's Hospital.

The patient – described as a 13-year-old girl with mild asthma – was initially taken to an undisclosed emergency department on Nov. 4 with a fever and conjunctivitis.

She was sent home without treatment, only to be brought back to hospital three days later in "respiratory distress," according to the case report. The teenager was then transferred to the ICU at B.C. Children's, suffering from pneumonia, acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and respiratory failure.

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She remained in intensive care until Dec. 4, when she was transferred to the hospital's pediatric ward. By Dec. 18, she no longer required supplemental oxygen.

Provincial officials announced the child's infection on Nov. 9 – after the presence of the H5 influenza virus was confirmed through testing – and launched an investigation into how and where she acquired the disease.

The government did not share any personal details on the patient at that time, except that she is from B.C.'s Fraser Valley. The report published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week indicates both the patient and her family consented to releasing additional details on her case.

The Ministry of Health told CTV News it could not provide any further information on Wednesday, including whether the child remains in hospital.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the findings of the government's investigation(opens in a new tab) on Nov. 29, confirming they had found "no evidence of transmission" from the child, and "no evidence of other cases" in B.C. either.

The source of the teenager's infection was never established, however, despite the testing of dozens of animal and environmental samples, all of which came back negative. Henry said the investigation was closed, at least temporarily, for lack of additional leads.

Genome sequencing did indicate the virus was the same one "circulating among poultry and wild birds" in both B.C. and Washington state since October, and "recently detected in a severe human infection in Louisiana," according to an appendix posted with the case report on Tuesday.

The doctors also noted there was evidence of a "worrisome" genetic mutation that "may increase binding to human airway receptors."

There have been 66 human cases of H5N1 confirmed across the U.S. so far, including 11 in Washington state, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which considers the overall public health risk to be "low." There have been outbreaks of the virus among poultry in all 50 states.

B.C.'s Ministry of Health advises anyone who has been exposed to sick or dead animals, or who works on a farm where avian influenza has been detected, to watch for flu-like symptoms. If those symptoms develop within 10 days of exposure, officials recommend telling a health-care provider.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Kaija Jussinoja and Michele Brunoro

B.C. teen with avian flu off oxygen, no longer infectious, Canadian health officials tell medical journal

Source of 13-year-old girl's exposure hasn't been determined, says letter to New England Journal of Medicine

The Canadian Press · Posted: Jan 01, 2025 

A letter sent to the New England Journal of Medicine and signed by Canadian health officials details the human case of H5N1 in Canada and says the 13-year-old girl who was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at British Columbia Children's Hospital in November last year is no longer considered infectious. (Justine Boulin/CBC)

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A letter sent to the editor of The New England Journal of Medicine signed by Canadian health officials says the British Columbia teenager who tested positive for avian flu has been taken off supplemental oxygen and is no longer infectious. 

The letter, which was published Tuesday and provides a summary and timeline of the case, was signed by doctors from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, B.C. Children's Hospital, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and B.C.'s agriculture ministry.

It says the patient was a 13-year-old girl who went to a B.C. emergency room on Nov. 4 with a fever and conjunctivitis in her eyes.

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The teen, who is described as having a history of mild asthma and an elevated body mass index, was initially discharged without treatment, but developed a cough, vomiting and diarrhea before she returned on Nov. 7 in respiratory distress.

The report says the girl was transferred the next day to the pediatric intensive care unit at British Columbia Children's Hospital for treatment, which included temporary tracheal intubation.

WATCH | B.C. authorities don't know where human case of avian flu originated: 

Cause of B.C. teen's H5N1 avian flu infection still unknown, health officials say

1 month ago

Duration1:54

B.C.'s top doctor says they still don't know how a teenager became sick with a strain of avian flu. The update comes as another case has been identified in a child in California. As Michelle Ghoussoub reports, officials stress the risk of transmission to humans remains low.

Additional information posted to the journal's website says the patient was deemed no longer infectious on Nov. 29 and no longer required supplemental oxygen as of Dec. 18.

It also indicates both the girl and her family consented to releasing additional details on her case and notes that, to date, the source of her H5N1 exposure has not yet been determined.

It says there have been no secondary cases of transmission of the virus in the girl's home or at the hospital. 

This colourized electron microscope image provided by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows the red and yellow particles of avian influenza A virus, or bird flu, grown in cultured cells. (CDC/NIAID/The Associated Press)

The teen's infection, which was announced in November, was the first human case of H5N1 avian flu acquired in Canada. The Ministry of Health had said the teen is from the Fraser Health region, which includes several of Vancouver's eastern and southern suburbs and the Fraser Valley. 

B.C.'s commercial poultry sector has been damaged by avian flu outbreaks in recent years. The most recent data posted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website says more than 8.5 million birds have been "impacted" in the province since the spring of 2022.

Most of the outbreaks reported in recent months in the province have been in the Fraser Valley, located within the Fraser Health region.

WATCH | WHO wants closer surveillance of animals amid avian flu spread: 

WHO says 'much stronger' H5N1 surveillance needed in animal populations

1 month ago

Duration0:48

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, is calling for increased surveillance globally of animal populations that are known to be susceptible to H5N1, including wild birds, poultry, swine and cattle.

The investigation of the case of the teenager in B.C. with H5 avian flu included testing of pets, birds and other animals from nearby premises as well as environmental testing of soil and water, according to the province.

It determined that the strain the teen contracted closely matches the strain found in wild birds in the Fraser Valley area in October and was not directly related to outbreaks at poultry farms in B.C.

'A terrible virus'

The letter sent to The New England Journal of Medicine says that the H5N1 virus can cause severe human illness.

"Evidence for changes to [protein structures] that may increase binding to human airway receptors is worrisome," the letter concludes.

WATCH | Doctor speaks about potential for human spread of avian flu: 

What’s the potential for avian flu to infect humans — and can we handle it?

3 days ago

Duration5:55

A housecat has died in the United States after eating raw pet food and contracting H5N1 bird flu. Epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos tells CBC News the risk of any individual pet getting avian flu is still low, but what is concerning is the easier it becomes for it to infect different types of animals, ‘the easier it will ultimately become for this virus to infect humans.'

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, said the letter and the symptoms it talked about were consistent with other reports on human cases of avian influenza over the past two decades.

"If you look at how severe this infection was, I think it's pretty fair to say that this is a terrible virus," he told CBC News.

"And also, for lack of a better word, a very vigorous host response and significant inflammatory response to this virus."

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Bogoch said the virus wasn't yet being readily transmitted from human to human, but urged authorities to take precautions.

"We really have to ensure that there's as few mammals as possible infected with this virus," he said. "So we don't give it opportunities to mutate in a way that it is more readily transmitted between humans."

With files from the CBC's Shaurya Kshatri