Australia has reported its first human case of bird flu, detected in a child in Victoria who contracted the avian influenza A (H5N1) infection while in India. This announcement comes on the heels of a new bird flu outbreak identified on a farm in Victoria. The child, who was unwell in March this year, represents the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia. Victoria Health officials confirmed that the avian influenza virus was detected through additional testing of positive influenza samples. These tests are part of Victoria's enhanced surveillance system designed to identify novel or concerning flu strains.

 

"Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case," Victoria Health stated. Despite experiencing a severe infection, the child is no longer unwell. Officials reassured the public that most people are not at risk from the virus unless they have direct contact with infected birds, animals, or their secretions in affected areas globally. While human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A (H5N1) is extremely rare and typically requires prolonged contact, there is no evidence that the current H5N1 strains can spread easily between humans.

Bird flu symptoms in humans include fever, cough, headache, aching muscles, and respiratory issues. Early symptoms may also feature conjunctivitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. The infection can rapidly progress to severe respiratory illness and neurological changes.

In a separate incident, a different strain of bird flu was detected at a Victorian egg farm. This outbreak involved the H7N7 strain, not the H5N1 strain found in the human case. Agriculture Victoria reported that initial tests confirmed the presence of the virus on a farm near Meredith, west of Melbourne. Samples were sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong for further testing. Senator Murray Watt confirmed that the tests ruled out the H5 strain as the cause of the poultry outbreak. Despite global concerns about avian influenza, this particular outbreak involved the H7 strain.

Avian influenza is prevalent among birds worldwide, with virus strains classified as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI). In 2020, Victoria experienced an HPAI bird flu outbreak on three egg farms, which were declared disease-free by February 2021. While human cases from direct contact with animals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, Agriculture Victoria emphasized that the current risk to the public remains low. They urged all poultry and bird owners in Victoria to adhere to stringent biosecurity practices, such as maintaining clean poultry sheds, yards, aviaries, and equipment. Owners should also restrict contact between their poultry and wild birds, ensure clean footwear, wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs, and quarantine new birds before integrating them with existing flocks.

 

 

Credit: 9 News 2024-05-23

 

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