Post by Admin on May 22, 2024 15:35:28 GMT
Key messages
A human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection, also known as “bird flu”, has been reported in Victoria.
There is a current global outbreak of avian influenza in birds and animals. Avian influenza does not usually infect people, but in rare cases human infection can occur.
The recently reported case in Victoria was in a child who returned to Australia from overseas in March 2024. The child experienced a severe infection but is no longer unwell and has made a full recovery.
There is no evidence of transmission in Victoria and the chance of additional human cases is very low as avian influenza does not easily spread between people.
A case of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection, also known as “bird flu”, has been reported in Victoria. This is the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia. The case occurred in a child, who acquired the infection in India and was unwell in March 2024. The avian influenza virus was detected through further testing of positive influenza samples that takes place to detect novel or concerning flu virus strains, as part of Victoria’s enhanced surveillance system. Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case.
There are lots of different subtypes (strains) of avian influenza. Most of them don’t infect humans. Some subtypes, including H5N1, are more likely to cause disease and death in poultry. These are known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. Significant outbreaks of HPAI viruses are being reported in poultry and non-poultry birds and mammals overseas. The United States of America is currently experiencing outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1) in dairy cows, with one recent human case in a dairy worker. Whilst the Victorian case is HPAI (H5N1), it is not the same as the strains that have caused these outbreaks in the United States of America.
The Department of Health is supporting Agriculture Victoria in responding to an outbreak of avian influenza among birds at a poultry farm in regional Victorian. Testing has confirmed this outbreak is not related to this human case.
Transmission to humans is very rare, with a small number of human cases of H5N1 reported globally, resulting in death in a number of cases. This is the first confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia, and the first time the H5N1 strain has been detected in a person or animal in Australia.
The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't protect against avian influenza. However, it can help prevent the mixing of highly pathogenic avian influenza with seasonal influenza, which can lead to new mutated viruses that could spread rapidly. This highlights the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination, particularly for poultry workers and those travelling to areas with outbreaks, to reduce the risk of new human pandemic viruses emerging.
Who is at risk?
The transmission of avian influenza from birds or animals to humans is very rare. Most people are not at risk, unless they have contact with infected birds or animals, or their secretions, while in affected areas of the world. Rarely, avian influenza infection in humans can pass to another person with prolonged contact. However, there is no evidence that the H5N1 strains of avian influenza circulating globally can be spread easily from human to human. In this case, contact tracing has identified that there is no evidence of onwards spread to people.
Symptoms and transmission
The symptoms of H5N1 infection may include fever, cough, headache, aching muscles and respiratory symptoms. Other early symptoms may include conjunctivitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. The infection may progress quickly to severe respiratory illness and neurological changes.
Avian influenza is spread by close contact with an infected bird (dead or alive), e.g. handling infected birds, touching droppings or bedding, or killing/preparing infected poultry for cooking. You can't catch avian influenza through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of avian influenza.
A human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection, also known as “bird flu”, has been reported in Victoria.
There is a current global outbreak of avian influenza in birds and animals. Avian influenza does not usually infect people, but in rare cases human infection can occur.
The recently reported case in Victoria was in a child who returned to Australia from overseas in March 2024. The child experienced a severe infection but is no longer unwell and has made a full recovery.
There is no evidence of transmission in Victoria and the chance of additional human cases is very low as avian influenza does not easily spread between people.
A case of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection, also known as “bird flu”, has been reported in Victoria. This is the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia. The case occurred in a child, who acquired the infection in India and was unwell in March 2024. The avian influenza virus was detected through further testing of positive influenza samples that takes place to detect novel or concerning flu virus strains, as part of Victoria’s enhanced surveillance system. Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case.
There are lots of different subtypes (strains) of avian influenza. Most of them don’t infect humans. Some subtypes, including H5N1, are more likely to cause disease and death in poultry. These are known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. Significant outbreaks of HPAI viruses are being reported in poultry and non-poultry birds and mammals overseas. The United States of America is currently experiencing outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1) in dairy cows, with one recent human case in a dairy worker. Whilst the Victorian case is HPAI (H5N1), it is not the same as the strains that have caused these outbreaks in the United States of America.
The Department of Health is supporting Agriculture Victoria in responding to an outbreak of avian influenza among birds at a poultry farm in regional Victorian. Testing has confirmed this outbreak is not related to this human case.
Transmission to humans is very rare, with a small number of human cases of H5N1 reported globally, resulting in death in a number of cases. This is the first confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia, and the first time the H5N1 strain has been detected in a person or animal in Australia.
The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't protect against avian influenza. However, it can help prevent the mixing of highly pathogenic avian influenza with seasonal influenza, which can lead to new mutated viruses that could spread rapidly. This highlights the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination, particularly for poultry workers and those travelling to areas with outbreaks, to reduce the risk of new human pandemic viruses emerging.
Who is at risk?
The transmission of avian influenza from birds or animals to humans is very rare. Most people are not at risk, unless they have contact with infected birds or animals, or their secretions, while in affected areas of the world. Rarely, avian influenza infection in humans can pass to another person with prolonged contact. However, there is no evidence that the H5N1 strains of avian influenza circulating globally can be spread easily from human to human. In this case, contact tracing has identified that there is no evidence of onwards spread to people.
Symptoms and transmission
The symptoms of H5N1 infection may include fever, cough, headache, aching muscles and respiratory symptoms. Other early symptoms may include conjunctivitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. The infection may progress quickly to severe respiratory illness and neurological changes.
Avian influenza is spread by close contact with an infected bird (dead or alive), e.g. handling infected birds, touching droppings or bedding, or killing/preparing infected poultry for cooking. You can't catch avian influenza through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of avian influenza.