First human case of avian influenza in Australia. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports this, specifying that it is a two and a half year old girl whose health conditions, after being admitted to hospital in Melbourne, are good. This, explains the WHO, is the first confirmed human infection caused by the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus detected and reported from Australia. Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case “is currently unknown, the exposure – specifies the WHO – probably occurred in India, where the case had travelled, and where the A (H5N1) virus was detected in the past in birds”.
Bird flu, one death in Mexico. It is the world’s first human case of the H5N2 virus
A human infection caused by a new subtype of influenza A virus is an event that has the potential for high public health impact and must be notified to WHO. Based on available information, the World Health Organization currently assesses the risk to the general population posed by this virus as “low”.
Depending on the original host, influenza A viruses may be classified as avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses. Avian influenza virus infections in humans can cause illnesses ranging from mild respiratory tract infections to more severe illnesses. From 2003 to 22 May 2024, 891 cases of human infections with avian influenza A (H5N1), including 463 deaths, were reported to WHO from 24 countries.
Nearly all of these cases of avian influenza in humans have been linked to close contact with live or dead infected birds or contaminated environments. However, human infection has a high mortality rate. Influenza A (H5N1) viruses, belonging to different genetic groups, do not easily infect humans, and human-to-human transmission seems unusual so far. As the virus continues to circulate in poultry, particularly in rural areas, the risk of further sporadic cases in humans remains.
Avian flu, virus detected in pasteurized milk in the USA: what science says about the epidemic
Currently, available epidemiological and virological evidence suggests that A(H5) viruses have not acquired the capacity for sustained transmission between humans, therefore the probability of human-to-human spread is low. There are no specific vaccines for influenza A(H5N1) in humans. However, candidate vaccines have been developed in some countries to prepare for a possible pandemic. Some antiviral drugs, particularly neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir), can shorten the duration of viral replication and in some cases improve survival prospects.
#Avian #flu #human #case #Australia #2yearold #girl