The Conversation reported misinformation stating the current clade of H5N1 is "usually mild"
https://theconversation.com/is-bird-flu-infecting-humans-how-would-we-know-289489
Really shocked and worried by the misinformation in today's article and Facebook post by The Conversation.
It states,
"So far in 2026, no humans in Australia have been diagnosed with the currently circulating strain. And evidence from overseas indicates that in the rare situation this would occur, illness would generally be mild."
It links to an article looking at bovine-to-human cases of the 2.3.4.4b clade.
I've written an email to the editorial team requesting a correction:
"Hi,
You need to immediately take down or revise today's article and Facebook post "Is bird flu infecting humans? How would we know?"
I cannot believe The Conversation would publish something saying that the "illness would generally be mild."
The only time that the 2.3.4.4b clade is "usually mild" is when it is spread from cow to human.
When 2.3.4.4b is spread from bird to human, it is still extremely dangerous.
[Globally] There are 6 confirmed cases of the 2.3.4.4b clade which spread bird-to-human, of which 2 were fatal, 1 was severe, and only 3 were "mild".
This is more in line with what we know about H5N1 in general which is that when it spreads from bird to human, the case fatality rate is around 53%.
The reason for this difference is that birds carry much higher viral loads than cows. Exposure often involves aerosolised faeces, carcass handling, or contaminated environments. The virus in birds is fully adapted to avian tissue, which can cause catastrophic inflammation when it hits human lungs. Cow infections, by contrast, involve mammalian‑adapted virus, which may reduce severity in humans, including changes in PB2 and other replication genes.
I've followed the Conversation for a long time as a source of news on viruses of concern, and this enormously damages your standing if you are going to become another propaganda machine for the government whenever they want to reduce panic.
Soon, as the disease spreads, thousands of Australians will be exposed to H5N1 infected birds including vets, volunteer workers and poultry farmers. Spreading the complete misinformation that the virus is "usually mild" puts all of those people at risk. It also greatly increases the risk of a human-to-human mutation because it encourages people to be less precautious about going near sick birds.
I am horrified and disgusted with today's cherry picking (of completely irrelevant data), and gross public health misinformation."
Here's hoping they correct it asap but it shows a concerning sign that we may be starting to see the beginning of the propaganda machine around H5N1 in Australia now. I'd bet money that the Australian government would do anything to protect poultry industry profits. And if that means making everyone think the virus is safe for humans, they'd do it.