Influenza Vaccine Pushed After Bird Flu Detected in Victoria

The first human case of H5N1 avian flu was reported in Victoria, but there is no evidence of transmission within the state.

Test tubes labelled "Bird Flu" and eggs are seen in a picture illustration on Jan. 14, 2023. Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters

The Victorian Health Department is encouraging people to take the seasonal flu vaccine after the first Australian case of bird flu was discovered in the state.

A human case of avian influenza, known as H5N1 infection, was detected in a child in India who fell ill in March 2024.