Human bird flu case in UK confirmed after ‘contact’ at farm – as experts warn bug is ‘one mutation from pandemic’
A PERSON in the West Midlands has contracted bird flu, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The case is only one of seven seen in the UK since 2021 and the risk to the wider public is "very low", it added.
The patient, who had symptoms, is currently well and has been admitted to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit, as is routine.
They acquired the influenza A(H5N1) infection after "close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds" with the DI.2 genotype - one of the viruses known to be circulating in birds in the UK this season, the UKHSA said.
This is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US.
The case was picked up as part of routine surveillance for bird flu in the UK, though everyone in contact with the individual and those at highest risk of exposure "have been offered antiviral treatment", the agency added.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: "The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low despite this confirmed case.
"We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur.
"Currently there is no evidence of onwards transmission from this case.
"People are reminded not to touch sick or dead birds and it's important that they follow Defra advice about reporting any suspected avian influenza cases."
Human-to-human transmission of bird flu has never been documented in Europe or the UK, though has occasionally happened abroad.
Experts from the US recently discovered H5N1 is already just one mutation away from developing the ability to transmit person-to-person.
Health minister Andrew Gwynne said the safety of the public is paramount.
"The risk of wider or onward transmission is very low, however the UK remains prepared and ready to respond to any current and future health threats," he added.
"We recently added the H5 vaccine, which protects against avian influenza, to our stockpile as part of our preparedness plans."
UK 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.
"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."
Since 2021, there have been seven human bird flu cases detected in the UK.
The latest case is the second in which the patient has exhibited symptoms.
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All cases have been in people with direct exposure to infected birds.
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has ordered a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone AIPZ to cover the whole of England following the "escalating number of cases" and "continued heightened risk levels in wild birds".
Bird flu: Could it be the next human pandemic?
By Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter
The H5N1 bird flu is running rampant in wildlife around the world and is now spreading in cows.
In recent months, it infected people in Canada and the US leaving them severely unwell.
This increase in transmission has given the virus lots of opportunities to mutate - a process where a pathogen changes and can become more dangerous.
Scientists fear it's only a matter of time before one of these mutations makes it better at spreading among mammals - and potentially humans.
Experts recently discovered H5N1 is already just one mutation away from developing the ability to transmit person-person.
Some experts believe the virus could already be spreading among some animal species.
So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 can spread between humans.
But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals over the past 20 years, the mortality rate is high.
From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the World Health Organisation.
This puts the case fatality rate at 52 per cent.
Leading scientists have already warned an influenza is the pathogen most likely to trigger a new pandemic in the near future.
The prospect of a flu pandemic is alarming.
Although scientists have pointed out that vaccines against many strains, including H5N1, have already been developed, others are still in the pipeline.