A toddler of two-and-half-year-old tested positive for H5N1 bird flu and required intensive care treatment in a hospital in Australia after traveling to India, as reported by the World Health Organization on 7 May, Friday.
During her visit to Kolkata from February 12 to 29, the girl had no known contact with sick individuals or animals. Upon returning to Australia on March 1, she was promptly hospitalized in the southeastern state of Victoria on the following day.
Subsequently, on March 4, she was transferred to an intensive care unit in Melbourne for one week due to deteriorating symptoms. After a hospital stay of two and a half weeks, she was discharged.
While hospitalized, the girl tested positive for influenza A, and samples were further analyzed in April for detailed characterization.
"This is the first confirmed human infection caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) virus detected and reported by Australia," said WHO.
The World Health Organization has evaluates the current risk level posed by the virus to the general population as low.
