Case of bird flu confirmed in farm worker

An individual engaged on a farm has contracted the human model of avian flu.

The UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) stated the person “had shut and extended contact with numerous contaminated birds”, however wouldn’t say the place the farm was.

The particular person was “presently nicely and was admitted to a Excessive Consequence Infectious Illness unit,” it stated.

It additionally stated the danger to the broader public “continues to be very low” and that bird-to-human transmission of this sort was uncommon.

UKHSA routinely swabs individuals who have been in shut contact with contaminated birds and, after confirming the transmission, stated there was no proof that the particular person had handed it on to anybody else.

However, it stated it had traced everybody the particular person had been involved with and provided them antiviral therapy.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “Whereas avian influenza is extremely contagious in birds, it is a very uncommon occasion and may be very particular to the circumstances on this premises.”

She additionally stated the farm had been totally cleaned and that it was “a reminder that stringent biosecurity is important when preserving animals”.

Since 2021 there have solely been seven circumstances of people contracting chicken flu, and there has by no means been an occasion of chicken flu being handed from human to human in Europe or the UK.

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Well being and Prevention, stated the federal government had lately added the H5 vaccine, which protects towards avian influenza, to its stockpile of vaccines as a precaution.

The announcement got here quickly after the choice to position the entire of Shropshire into an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), following an outbreak of chicken flu at a farm within the county.

This implies anybody who has birds in Shropshire should home their animals.

This is applicable whether or not or not you may have only one or two chickens in a again backyard proper as much as giant industrial flocks.

Alongside this transfer, the remainder of England has additionally seen new chicken flu measures put in place, although these usually are not as robust as these in Shropshire.

It means everybody with birds should now comply with enhanced biosecurity measures. Together with;

• Cleaning and disinfecting footwear and clothes.

• Disinfecting housing on a steady foundation.

• Minimising contact with wild birds.

• Retaining birds away from ponds and lakes.

On the website of the Shropshire outbreak, the killing and disposal of 1,000,000 egg-laying birds at a farm simply exterior Wem continues.

In a press release, the Griffiths household, who run the farm, informed the BBC the outbreak was “devastating information”.

General ranges of chicken flu haven’t reached the height of latest years, however anybody with birds is requested to stay vigilant.

There is no such thing as a danger to the general public from consuming poultry or eggs, but when extra industrial egg-laying flocks are impacted, it might have an effect on the worth of eggs within the retailers.