The kid was thought to have been contaminated in India
22 Could 2024
3 minute learn
Australia reported its first human case of avian influenza on Wednesday in a toddler who authorities stated had been contaminated in India however made a full restoration, whereas a special extremely contagious pressure was discovered on an egg farm, reported Reuters.
The H5N1 pressure of avian flu has swept the globe in recent times, killing billions of farmed and wild birds and spreading to tens of mammal species.
Well being authorities in Australia’s southeastern state of Victoria stated contact tracing had not recognized any additional instances and there was a really low likelihood of others changing into contaminated because the flu doesn’t simply unfold between individuals.
“That is the primary confirmed human case of extremely pathogenic avian influenza in Australia,” Dr Claire Looker, the state’s chief well being officer, stated in an announcement.
It was the primary occasion of detection of the H5N1 pressure in an individual or animal within the nation, she added.
“The kid skilled a extreme an infection however is not unwell and has made a full restoration.”
The case in Victoria includes an H5N1 virus, however the pressure is just not the identical as these chargeable for outbreaks in the USA, Looker stated.
A farm employee in Texas examined optimistic for the virus earlier this yr because it unfold by way of the US cattle herd.
Australia is the one continent the place animals have up to now stayed freed from the H5N1 avian influenza virus, however authorities on Wednesday stated a special pressure of extremely pathogenic fowl flu had been detected at an egg farm close to Melbourne.
First laboratory exams confirmed that virus was an as but unidentified H7 pressure that in all probability got here from the wild fowl inhabitants and had been seen in Australia earlier than, stated Graeme Cooke, Victoria’s chief veterinary officer.
Curbs have been imposed on motion across the farm and the birds can be destroyed, he added.
“This space does have a excessive density of poultry companies, each egg laying and poultry meat,” Cooke advised Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) radio.
“At this stage we won’t say whether or not there will be any onward unfold to different properties. We at the moment are taking measures essential to stamp it out to take away any onward unfold.”
The outbreak introduced no threat to human well being, he stated.
Solely a small a part of the business has been affected, stated Rowan McMonnies, chief govt of business physique Australian Eggs, including that farmers can be “working laborious to make sure there are eggs on cabinets”.
Rooster producer Inghams Group plunged as a lot as 16% however pared losses to five.5% by 0701 GMT after it stated operations had not been affected.
The Australian Rooster Meat Federation (ACMF) stated firms had stepped up biosafety measures as a precaution however added, “No discernible affect is anticipated on rooster meat provides on the retail degree.”
In 2020, Victoria was the location of an H7N7 outbreak, the newest of Australia’s 9 outbreaks of Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since 1976. All have been rapidly reined in and stamped out, the federal government says.
