Sat Sep 07 00:35:00 UTC 2024: – The federal government is testing Australia’s ability to respond to an outbreak of the bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain which is highly contagious and can be transmitted to humans.
– Stakeholders from various sectors including government, agriculture, health, and emergency management will meet to evaluate the country’s preparedness.
– Australia is the only continent to have not detected H5N1, but the government believes it poses “significant risks” if it enters the country.
– The government has invested $7 million to address the threats posed by the H5N1 strain, as part of a $1 billion investment in biosecurity overall.
– The World Health Organisation reports 882 cases of H5N1 infections in humans globally, with 461 fatalities since 2003.
– The national response test for bird flu is part of Exercise Volare, a series of activities to measure Australia’s readiness to respond to an outbreak.

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