Primary Care Webinar

Avian Influenza H5N1, measles and dengue: current advice for primary care practitioners

Since its emergence in 2020, the Avian Influenza A H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade has significantly impacted wild birds and domestic poultry globally, with rare transmissions to humans and occasional detections in other mammals. Notably, Australia remains the only continent unaffected.

Although previous strains of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have caused severe illness in humans, the very rare human cases of this clade have been relatively mild.

The recent discovery of this virus in dairy cattle in the United States, including transmission to two dairy workers, has led to increased monitoring and response efforts. No human-to-human transmission has been documented to date and Australia continues to be free from this clade. 

The webinar will be combined with other public health advice for travellers, namely measles and dengue, to provide updates on the current situation with these diseases.  

The webinar will be hosted by Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer for NSW, and include presentations from experts from:

• NSW Department of Primary Industries

• Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology

• Infection Prevention and Control

• Public Health.

There will also be time for Q&A towards the end of the webinar.