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Human Health
AI is currently not known to be present in Australia. Generally, humans are not affected by most strains of avian influenza. However certain strains, such as H5N1, can cause influenza in humans. The first recorded human death from avian influenza was in Hong Kong in 1997.
As of 16 October 2006 a total of 256 confirmed human cases and 151 deaths were reported worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Bird Flu Watch websites provide regular updates on the spread of Avian Influenza.
Transmission of avian influenza from animals to humans is mainly by:
- direct contact with live birds infected with the virus
- direct contact with faeces, nasal or eye discharges from infected birds.
Biosecurity precautions are high in Australia. People generally have little contact with live poultry, unlike in many other parts of the world currently experiencing outbreaks where poultry may commonly live in domestic environments. In Australia, only poultry farm workers have relatively close contact with live poultry and high biosecurity and strict on-farm OHS regulations are in place to protect them.
There is some risk of infection to humans but it needs to be kept in perspective. Despite extensive contacts between people and infected birds in Asia, there have been less than 200 cases and less than 100 deaths of people who have contracted the virus.
In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza occurring in Australian poultry, consumers of poultry meat and egg products should not be concerned. The avian influenza virus (like most other viruses and bacteria) is destroyed by adequate heating or cooking. Normal food preparation hygiene should be practiced routinely.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing recently released new guidelines for persons working with poultry and other birds at risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
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More information on human health aspects of avian influenza is available from:
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