Between 2 April and 7 June 2024, WHO published five Disease Outbreak News releases of influenza cases. These are summarized below looking at the date of notification, the importance of the detection, the source of exposure (how the case was infected), and the case profile (including age, sex, underlying health condition and history).
- Avian Influenza A (H5N1) - Australia
Notification
On 17 May 2024, the WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia notified the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) of Australia of a suspected case of human A(H5N1) avian influenza (HPAI) in Melbourne, Victoria.
Importance
This is the first confirmed human infection caused by avian influenza A(H5N1) virus detected and reported by Australia.
Source of exposure
Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, the exposure likely occurred in India, where the case had travelled, and where this clade of A(H5N1) viruses has been detected in birds.
Case profile
The case is a two and a half-year-old girl with no underlying conditions. She had a history of travel to Kolkata, India, from 12 to 29 February 2024. She returned to Australia on 1 March 2024.
Upon returning to Australia, the child presented at a hospital in Victoria on 2 March 2024, where she received medical care and was admitted on the same day. On 4 March, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit at a referral hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, due to worsening symptoms, for a period of one week. The patient was discharged from hospital after a two and a half week admission. The case is now reported to be clinically well.
