Australia first human case of bird flu: Infected in India

Australia has confirmed its first human case of avian (bird) influenza in a child who may have been "infected by the virus in India" but has now fully recovered.

The H5N1 strain of avian flu, responsible for devastating billions of bird populations worldwide and infecting various mammal species, was identified in the child.

Health officials in Victoria, Australia, assured the public that contact tracing had not revealed any further cases, and the likelihood of the virus spreading between people remains very low.

"This is the first confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia," said Dr Claire Looker, Victoria's chief health officer, in a statement. She noted that while the child experienced a severe infection, they have since made a full recovery. This case marks the first detection of H5N1 in a person or animal in Australia.

Besides the human case, authorities reported a new strain of highly pathogenic bird flu at an egg farm near Melbourne. Initial tests identified the virus as an H7 strain, likely originating from wild birds and previously detected in Australia.