The first death caused by H5N1 avian flu in North America has been reported in Alberta, Canada with a victim whose symptoms first appeared as he was traveling from China.

According to the Associated Press, Canada's health minister Rona Ambrose said the general public faces a very low risk and the bird flu case should be considered an isolated incident.

The person first reported his symptoms on a flight to Canada from Beijing on Dec. 27 and then later died on Jan. 3.

"As Canada's Health Minister I want to reassure the public this is an isolated case," Ambrose said in a statement obtained by CNN. "The risk of H5N1 to Canadians is very low. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. It is also important for Canadians to know that this case is not part of the seasonal flu which circulates in Canada every year."

Dr. Gregory Taylor told the AP the victim did not visit a farm or market on his visit to Beijing, but Chinese officials are looking into the possible presence of H5N1.

"This is the first evidence of this particular virus circulating in Beijing. Chinese authorities are going to be very interested. We've contacted them already," Taylor said.

Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, told the AP there is no evidence the victim caused an infection in anyone else, including those closest to him/her. However, family members of the victim, whose sex was not released, are being monitored and treated with medication as a precaution.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, H5N1 is not easily transferred from person to person, but it does have a 60 percent mortality rate. Between 2003 and 2013, 384 people have died from H5N1 out of a total 648 infections spanning 15 countries.

The victim's family members are being closely monitored because health experts worry that if bird flu became easily transferrable between people, the world could have a serious problem.