The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed a case of bird flu in a human in the West Midlands region of England, after the person had close and prolonged contact with infected birds on a farm.
The UKHSA has said that bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza (H5N1) is rare and has previously occurred a small number of times in the UK.
The risk to the wider public continues to be very low, the agency said.
The individual is currently well, and was admitted to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit, authorities said.
The birds were infected with the DI.2 genotype, one of the viruses known to be circulating in birds in the UK currently. This is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US.
Although there has been no demonstrated human-to-human transmission despite extensive recent surveillance of H5N1, the UKHSA has been tracing all individuals who have been in contact with the confirmed case of avian influenza.
Those at highest risk of exposure have been offered antiviral treatment. This is done to reduce the chance that any virus they have been exposed to will be able to cause infection.
The case was detected after the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified an outbreak of bird flu in a flock of birds. The UKHSA carried out routine monitoring on people who had been in close contact with the infected birds.
Commenting on the incident, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: “While avian influenza is highly contagious in birds, this is a very rare event and is very specific to the circumstances on this premises.
“We took swift action to limit the spread of the disease at the site in question, all infected birds are being humanely culled, and cleansing and disinfection of the premises will be undertaken all to strict, biosecure standards,” she added.
Middlemiss said: “This is a reminder that stringent biosecurity is essential when keeping animals.
“We are seeing a growing number of avian flu cases in birds on both commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country.
“Implementing scrupulous biosecurity measures will help protect the health and welfare of your birds from the threat of avian influenza and other diseases,” the chief veterinary officer said.
