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Avian Influenza (bird flu)
Page content: Introduction | National information hotline | FAQs | Interim infection control guidelines | Advice for medical practitioners
Introduction
On Wednesday 14 January 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an alert regarding an outbreak of avian influenza in Asia. Since mid-December 2003, outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1 strain) infection have been detected in the poultry populations of the Republic of Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. To date, there are only a small numbers of laboratory confirmed cases of H5N1 infection in humans. To date, the WHO has no evidence that person-to-person transmission is occurring, with all of the cases appearing to have been infected through contact with diseased birds.
National Information Hotline - public enquiries
A national information phone line for enquiries from the public is provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Telephone 1800 004 599
8.30am to 5.00pm EST – Monday to Friday*
* A recorded message is activated after hours
Frequently asked questions
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Interim infection control guidelines for health care facilities
See the World Health Organisation - Western Pacific Region website.
Advice for medical practitioners on avian influenza
From the Chief Health Officer, Victorian State Government, Department of Health: Vigilance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - update December 2007
See also: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing website.
