Australia has announced the first confirmed case of human bird flu (avian influenza A : H5N1) in a child who is believed to have acquired it while in India some weeks ago.
- The child was the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia, and the first detected case of the H5N1 strain in the country.
- Humans are not at risk from this virus unless they had contact with infected birds or animals or their secretions.
- Bird flu in poultry was last detected in Australia in 2020.
About H5N1
- H5N1 is one of several influenza viruses that causes a highly infectious respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or “bird flu”).
- Infections in mammals, including humans, have also been documented. H5N1 influenza virus infection can cause a range of diseases in humans, from mild to severe and in some cases, it can even be fatal.
- Symptoms reported have primarily been respiratory, but conjunctivitis and other non-respiratory symptoms have also been reported.
- Almost all cases of H5N1 virus infection in people have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments.
- No human-to-human H5N1 transmission has yet been recorded.
