Can I get sick from bird flu? What are the symptoms, and are chicken and eggs safe to eat? (opens original article in a new tab)

Australia confirmed its first H5N1 bird flu case in a brown skua, with low human transmission risk and poultry products considered safe. Key points include the virus's limited human spread, safety of chicken and eggs, and potential risks from handling sick birds.

• Australia detected H5N1 bird flu in a brown skua, the first case on the continent
• H5N1 can rarely infect humans through close contact with infected birds but has low human-to-human transmission risk
• Chicken and eggs are safe to eat in Australia, but handling sick poultry poses a risk