Health Minister Rona Ambrose says the case was an isolated one and that the risk to the general public is very low. The individual, who has not been identified, had recently returned from a trip to China.
"The health system did everything it could for this individual, and our thoughts are with the family at this time," Ambrose told reporters.
Ambrose stressed that the risk of H5N1 to Canadians "is very low. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission."
H5N1, or avian flu, is not part of the seasonal flu that circulates in Canada each year.
Ambrose said the Public Health Agency of Canada has notified China and the World Health Organization about the case, and is working closely with Chinese authorities "to follow up on the source and circumstances of this infection."
The World Health Organization says that as of mid-December, there had been 648 laboratory-confirmed human cases of H5N1 flu, reported in 15 countries. Of that total, 384 infections have been fatal.
Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy chief public health officer for Canada, said:
"This is the first and only confirmed case of H5N1 in North America."
H5N1 is an avian form of influenza that circulates in birds, mainly poultry.
"The illness it causes in humans is severe and kills about 60 per cent of those who are infected," Taylor said. "No other illnesses of this type have been identified in Canada since the traveller returned from China."
The unidentified victim began to feel ill on a flight from Beijing to Vancouver, on Air Canada flight number 030, and Vancouver to Edmonton, Air Canada flight 244, on Dec. 27.
The patient went to hospital with symptoms of fever, headache and malaise, was admitted to hospital on Jan. 1 and died on Jan. 3. Canada's national microbiology lab in Winnipeg received specimens on Tuesday, and confirmed that H5N1 was present, Taylor said.
The patient's family is not showing any signs of illness, he said.
Officials are contacting passengers on the two Air Canada flights to reassure them that the risk to the public is low.
The person is believed to have spent a couple of hours in the Vancouver airport before boarding the flight to Edmonton.
"We do not feel there is a risk to either the individuals on the airplane or any of the people at the airport," Taylor said.
Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said all close contacts have been identified and offered the anti-viral Tamiflu.
"We continue to monitor all of them and there are no symptoms and illnesses. I am confident that the chance of transmission is extremely low," he said.
Dr. Theresa Tam, director general of the centre for emergency preparedness and response at the Public Health Agency of Canada, echoed that sentiment.
"This is not a disease that is transmitted between humans, so unless you were in the affected area and in contact with an infected bird you're not going to get this illness," said Tam.
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