Australia's first cases of H5 avian influenza confirmed

Australia confirmed its first cases of H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in seabirds found in an isolated area in southern Western Australia. The Australian CDC said positive results were detected in two birds and characterized the current risk of bird flu to people in Australia as “low.” The agency noted that bird flu rarely spreads to humans and typically requires close contact with infected birds or other infected animals, or contact with contaminated environments; spread between people is “very rare.” Testing identified the first bird as the globally circulating H5 influenza A strain of concern, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. The CDC said this is the first time this H5 subtype has been found in an animal in Australia and advised that bird flu is not a food safety risk if chicken meat and eggs are handled and cooked correctly.