Australia reported its first human case of avian influenza on Wednesday in a child who authorities said had been infected in India but made a full recovery, while a different highly contagious strain was found on an egg farm.

The H5N1 strain of avian flu has swept the globe in recent years, killing billions of farmed and wild birds and spreading to tens of mammal species.

Health authorities in Australia’s southeastern state of Victoria said contact tracing had not identified any further cases and there was a very low chance of others becoming infected as the flu does not easily spread between people.

“This is the first confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia,” Dr Claire Looker, the state’s chief health officer, said in a statement.

  • Flying SquidMEnglish
    14•7 months ago

    I’m not sure that you’ll be doing much working from home while you’re coughing up blood.

      • Flying SquidMEnglish
        5•7 months ago

        Then don’t hope for a pandemic.

        • @[email protected]English
          2•7 months ago

          We’re all gonna die one day. At least I’ll be comfortable at home instead of an open office desk.

          • @[email protected]English
            3•7 months ago

            That’s the thing, you won’t be comfortable.

            You’ll get sick at your office desk then suffer miserably in your own bed or, god forbid, in a hospital bed. And you’ll have all the karma coming to you for wishing that fate on potentially millions of other people, if you believe in that sort of thing.

            • @ghostdoggtvEnglish
              1•7 months ago

              Karma is really only concerned with actions and reactions. If just wishing was enough, the world would be a much better place.

              • @[email protected]English
                1•7 months ago

                Individual karma can be brought on by thoughts, although that’s as far as I’m willing to take this conversation because I don’t believe in it.

                • @ghostdoggtvEnglish
                  0•7 months ago

                  You flex on people with beliefs you don’t yourself hold? Alright man catch you later

                  • @[email protected]English
                    1•7 months ago

                    Flex? You think this is flexing??

                    Here, how about this - you’re a douchebag for wishing for a pandemic that will undoubtedly kill hundreds of thousands if not millions.

          • Flying SquidMEnglish
            1•7 months ago

            I speak for no one but myself, but as an atheist, I’d like to live a very long life since I don’t think there’s anything for me after it ends.