COVID response failed human rights amid fresh warning
Health experts have warned Australia is less prepared for the next pandemic as a report details instances of governments ignoring human rights during COVID-19.
virus diseases
Health alert as mosquito virus spreads in three states
A second case of the deadly Japanese encephalitis has been detected in regional Victoria after a handful of cases were reported in NSW and Queensland.
Mass failures in unheard-of, deadly aged-care outbreak
An aged care centre's operator has apologised after a coroner found residents were left without medication, food and water during a deadly COVID-19 outbreak.
WHO says bird flu risk low after US reports first death
A human has for the first time died in the United States after being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, health officials say.
Summer’s first case of mosquito-borne virus detected
Japanese encephalitis, a potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus, has likely been detected in a resident in regional Victoria.
Measles, polio detected as authorities urge caution
Health authorities are urging people to monitor for measles symptoms after an infectious case was detected while polio was also found in wastewater.
DR Congo probes mysterious deadly flu-like disease
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say 71 people, including many children, have died from a mysterious flu-like disease.
WHO sends experts to DR Congo over mystery disease
The World Health Organisation is sending experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support local authorities in investigating an apparently new disease.
COVID-19 vaccine negligence claims ‘needle in haystack’
A class action accuses the government of negligence in approving COVID-19 vaccines, but lawyers say the case has no chance of making it to a hearing.
‘Significant’ jump in COVID-19 cases ahead of Christmas
A surge in COVID-19 cases has hit ahead of the festive season with health authorities warning those at risk to take precautions to avoid getting sick.
Strengthening wildlife numbers key to mitigate bird flu
The Invasive Species Council wants better bird protections to mitigate the impact of a deadly bird flu strain as Australia war games how to contain an outbreak.
Nation’s sick state of readiness for pandemics unmasked
Australia's healthcare, economy and public service have been exhausted by COVID-19 and a Centre for Disease Control will be set up to prepare for pandemics.
Deadly bird flu could lead to mass extinctions
Australia is preparing for a deadly strain of the bird flu which could lead to the extinction of unique species, as authorities brace for its arrival.
Devastating bird flu strain ‘on Australia’s doorstep’
Conservation groups are calling for more funding to prepare for the arrival of a deadly bird flu strain believed to have killed billions of animals worldwide.
Vaccines urged as mpox cases surge in global emergency
Now is the time for eligible people to get their mpox vaccines, experts say, as monthly diagnoses in Australia surge from the single digits to the hundreds.
Thailand says mpox case is more easily spread variant
A man detected as having a case of mpox in Thailand has the clade 1b strain of the virus, health authorities say.
Sweden finds mpox variant first identified in DR Congo
Sweden has recorded the first confirmed case outside of the African continent of a newer variant of mpox, health officials say.
Mpox cases on the rise amid global health emergency
Mpox cases are rising in Australia's eastern states, with certain groups of sexually-active men in particular urged to seek out free vaccines.
Plea to avoid panic as ‘unusual’ deadly outbreak grows
Victoria's legionnaires' disease outbreak has grown to 71 confirmed cases and a further seven suspected, following the death of an infected woman in her 90s.
Race to find source of legionnaires’ disease outbreak
The source of an outbreak of a severe form of pneumonia is yet to be confirmed but it is thought to be a cooling tower due to the high number of cases.
GPs urge jabs as winter lurgies return with a vengeance
A spike in illness ranging from flu and whooping cough to gastro concerns doctors and health authorities who urge more people to get vaccinated.
Tourism bouncing back with record visitor spending
International visitors are spending the most since 2019 as the tourism industry inches closer to recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts struggle to crack mystery new bird-flu outbreak
Australia does not do enough to protect its biosecurity, an expert has warned as authorities work overtime to contain the spread of bird flu in two states.
Funding plea as health system faces ‘national crisis’
Patients are copping the brunt of a deteriorating health system as state and territory health ministers call on the federal government to help fix the "crisis".
Fears people will crack as Coles imposes egg limits
A growing bird flu outbreak is yet to hit farmed chicken meat but shoppers have been urged to avoid panic-buying after a supermarket introduced egg sale limits.
Thousands of hens to be culled as flu hits fifth farm
A Victorian egg producer will destroy tens of thousands of hens after avian influenza was detected at a second farm, bringing the number impacted to five.
WHO confirms first fatal human case of bird flu A(H5N2)
The World Health Organisation says a death related to a confirmed human case of infection with A(H5N2) subtype of bird flu is the first of its kind globally.
Bird flu cull leads to 450,000 fewer eggs per day
It could take years for farms impacted by an avian influenza outbreak to recover after the deaths of half a million chickens.
Bird flu outbreak sparks mass cull of farmed chickens
Thousands of birds at an egg farm will be culled after a bird flu outbreak as authorities reveal a child is Australia's first case of a deadly global strain.
Bird flu found in one in five US milk samples: FDA
The United States Food and Drug Administration says one in five commercial milk samples tested across the country contained particles of the avian influenza.
Wider bird flu spread worrying, animal health body says
The head of the World Organisation for Animal Health says it is worrying to see the spread of bird flu to more different species.