Human case of bird flu identified in England

A rare case of avian-to-human avian influenza has been reported in the south-west of England.

The person contracted the infection from prolonged handling of a large number of infected birds kept around their home, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said.

Transmission of bird flu to humans was very rare and the risk to the public was very low, the health protection body said.

H5N1 strain detected in routine surveillance

The case was detected after the Animal and Plant Health Agency identified an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the individual’s flock during routine surveillance. All infected birds were culled.

The individual in question was swabbed by UKHSA staff in accordance with precautionary procedures, and laboratory analysis confirmed that the virus was of the “H5” type found in birds.

It has not yet been possible to confirm that the infected person is a carrier of the H5N1 strain, but the World Health Organization has been notified, based on the available evidence.

This is the first human case of the strain in the UK, although there have been cases elsewhere in the world, the UKHSA said, adding that the person concerned is currently doing well and is self-reliant. isolated.

All of the person’s contacts, including those who visited the premises, were traced and there was no evidence of further spread of the infection to anyone else, he said. .

Dr Holly Shelton, head of the influenza virus group at the Pirbright Institute, said: “A large infectious dose is required to infect a human with an avian influenza virus because there are important barriers that the virus must overcome. to establish the infection.

‘Human-to-human transmission of H5N1 avian influenza viruses is extremely rare and there is nothing in the genetic makeup of the most recent H5N1 avian influenza strain reported in the UK to suggest that this virus is capable of efficient and effective human-to-human transmission. . “

UKHSA Scientific Officer Professor Isabel Oliver commented: ‘Currently there is no evidence that this strain detected in the UK can spread from person to person, but we do know that viruses are evolving all the time and we continue to monitor the situation closely. “

Increased cases of avian influenza

UK Chief Veterinarian Christine Middlemiss said: “We are seeing an increasing number of cases in birds on commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country.”

In the week leading up to Christmas, she warned the UK was facing its biggest bird flu outbreak, with more than 60 confirmed cases since early November.

Wild birds that migrate to the UK from mainland Europe during the winter months can carry the disease, which can lead to cases in poultry and other captive birds.

Last winter, between November and March, 26 cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in farmed poultry and wild birds in the UK.

Avian influenza in humans: symptoms and treatment

The main symptoms of bird flu in humans are:

• A very high temperature, or feeling hot or chills

• Painful muscles

• Headache

• Cough or shortness of breath

Symptoms can be onset very quickly, according to the NHS, with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome listed as complications.

Treatment with antivirals can prevent serious illness and complications.

Mike Tildesley, professor of infectious disease modeling at the University of Warwick, commented on Science Media Center: “This will clearly be great news, but the bottom line is that human H5N1 infections are really rare – less than 1000 worldwide since 2003 – and they almost always occur as a result of direct and long contact. run with poultry.

“It can lead to an unpleasant infection for the affected person, but there has never been evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of H5N1, so at this time I would not consider this a significant public health risk. “