Human case of bird flu recorded in the UK as prevention zone launched
Human case of bird flu recorded in the UK as prevention zone launched
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Human-to-human transmission of bird flu has never been documented in Europe. A case of a human with bird flu has been recorded in the West Midlands. The local resident has contracted bird flu after prolonged contact with infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
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This marks a rare occurrence, with only seven cases identified in the UK since 2021. The UKHSA has stressed that the risk to the general public remains “very low.”. The individual, who displayed symptoms but is now recovering, is receiving care in a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit, a standard procedure for such cases. The infection was traced to a farm where birds carried the DI.2 genotype of the virus, a strain currently circulating among avian populations in the UK. Importantly, this differs from the strains affecting mammals and birds in the US.
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The case was detected through routine bird flu surveillance. As a precautionary measure, anyone who had contact with the infected individual, particularly those at higher risk of exposure, has been offered antiviral treatment. The Nhs says the main symptoms of bird flu can appear very quickly and include:.
Other early symptoms may include:. It usually takes 3 to 5 days for the first symptoms to appear after you’ve been infected. A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force for the whole of England and Scotland at noon on Saturday in a bid to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds.
