Australia's first human case of H5N1 and the current H7 poultry outbreaks: implications for public health and biosecurity measures

<p dir="ltr">Australia has long been free of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-H5N1, but recent developments have changed this status. The first confirmed human case of HPAI-H5N1, involved a 2.5-year-old girl who contracted the virus in Kolkata India between 12 and 29 February, 2024.The case was confirmed on 18 May, 2024 and the WHO was notified on 22 May. While in India, the girl visited the doctor due to, loss of appetite, fever, cough and vomiting on 28 February and received paracetamol treatment. Upon returning to Australia on 1 March, the illness was not reported to Australian airport biosecurity. The child sought medical attention and was admitted to the ICU in Melbourne on 4 March, and discharged 2.5 weeks after initial admission. The patient was infected with clade 2.3.2.1a, common in South Asian birds, especially in Bangladesh and India. This clade is different from clade 2.3.2.1c, found in Cambodian and Vietnamese poultry, which occasionally infects humans. The case marks a significant epidemiological event, emphasising the importance of vigilance against avian influenza.</p>