First human case of 'bird flu' reported in Australia as bird flu found on ...

A child in Victoria has been confirmed as having the first case of bird flu in Australia.

The child acquired the avian influenza A (H5N1) infection while in India, and was unwell in March this year, according to state health officials.

The case was announced today, hours after bird flu was detected on a farm in Victoria.

"Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case," Victoria Health said in a statement today.

The child reportedly experienced a severe infection but is no longer unwell. 

"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," officials said. 

Health officials said most people were not at risk from the virus, unless they had 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."

Victoria Health said 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.

Bird flu symptoms 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.

Earlier today, a different strain of bird flu was detected on a Victorian egg farm after a number of poultry deaths.

While the human case detected today is in the H5N1 strain, the strain on the farm was found to be a different H7N7 variety.

Agriculture Victoria said in a release that early tests had confirmed the presence of the virus on the farm near Meredith, west of Melbourne.

Samples were sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness at Geelong for further tests.

Testing has since confirmed that the chicken-farm outbreak is from the H7 strain.

Senator Murray Watt said the tests ruled out the H5 strain as the cause of the poultry outbreak, which was otherwise causing concern around the world.

Avian influenza is found in birds around the world.

Virus strains are described as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI).

In 2020, three egg farms in Victoria were caught in an HPAI bird flu outbreak, but they were declared disease free in February 2021.

While cases among humans in direct contact with animals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, the current risk to the public remains low, Agriculture Victoria said.

All poultry and bird owners across Victoria are reminded to follow best biosecurity practices such keeping poultry sheds, yards, aviaries and equipment clean, and restricting contact between your poultry and wild birds.

Bird owners should also ensure their footwear is clean, always wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs and quarantine new birds before integrating with existing ones.

People are advised to not be concerned about eggs and poultry products from the supermarkets.

Agriculture Victoria said they do not pose a risk and are safe to eat.

Any suspicion of an emergency animal disease (EAD) should be immediately reported to the 24-hour EAD Hotline on 1800 675 888 or to your local vet.

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