The current situation

What is the present situation?

Avian influenza has been identified previously in the UK . What happened and what was the public health risk during these incidences?

What measures can the public take to minimise their risk from bird flu in the UK?

What measures should poultry workers take now or in the future to protect themselves from Avian Influenza?

What should I do if I find a number of dead birds?

What should local residents within a surveillance or restricted zone do?

Should people avoid coming in close proximity with wild birds or visiting farms (eg stop taking their children to feed the ducks or visiting farms)?

My child is rearing a baby chicken as a school project. Should they stop?

I rear a small number of birds/poultry in my back garden. Am I at risk?

What countries have been affected in the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)?

What is the present situation?

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (3 June 2008) confirmed Avian Influenza in chickens on premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire after preliminary tests were positive for the H7 strain.  All birds on the premises will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.

Laboratory testing continues and results which will allow confirmation of whether the strain is high or low pathogenicity will follow. A detailed epidemiological investigation to better understand the origin and development of the disease is underway.

A Temporary Control Zone with a 3km inner zone and a 10km outer zone is being established around the Infected Premises. A number of measures apply.  All birds must be housed or otherwise isolated from contact with wild birds in the inner zone. Bird gatherings are banned and all other movements of birds and some products are banned in the whole of the Temporary Control Zone. Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed. More information is available from Defra's website.

Since mid-December 2003, a growing number of countries worldwide have reported outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in poultry. Infections in several species of wild birds have also been reported. This rapid spread of H5N1, with concurrent outbreaks occurring in several countries, is historically unprecedented and is potentially of great concern for human health, as well as for agriculture.

This particular strain of HPAI H5N1 first jumped the species barrier and caused severe disease in humans in 1997 in Hong Kong . It was successfully contained by imposition of strict animal control measures including wide-scale culling of poultry; however 18 human cases were associated with the outbreak, of which six were fatal.

From 2003 onwards H5N1 has been responsible for human infections in gradually growing (but still very low) numbers across south-east Asia and more recently further a field. Countries which have reported human cases include: Azerbaijan , China , Cambodia , Djibouti , Egypt , Indonesia , Iraq , Nigeria , Thailand , Turkey and Viet Nam . Details about the individual cases are available on the WHO avian influenza home page or the HPA website.

 

Avian influenza has been identified previously in the UK. What happened and what was the public health risk during these incidences?

• On 05 May 2007, avian influenza A/H7N2 was identified in Wales and North West England, associated with a market in Cheshire.  This strain had not previously been identified in the UK.  In this incident, four people who had close contact with the sick birds, two in North Wales and two in North West England, tested positive for influenza virus.  Three of these people were hospitalised with flu-like symptoms.  Fifteen other possible cases were identified and all tested negative for H7N2 at the time.  Previously there had only been two separate reports of conjunctivitis in humans due to this virus.

The plans of the Health Protection Agency and other public health agencies in the UK in association with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in response to the identification of avian influenza were successfully implemented in all these incidents.

During these incidents, there was virtually no risk to the public. Avian influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty to humans, this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces (because infected birds excrete large amounts of virus via this route).

The veterinary personnel and others involved in the incident were assessed to be at low risk from avian influenza but were given antiviral prophylaxis during the incident and followed up by local Health Protection Units as a precautionary measure. To date, there have been no cases of human infection with HPAI H5N1 associated with any of these UK incidences and there remains virtually no risk to the general public in the UK from avian influenza.

During the previous century, there were four outbreaks of HPAI in the UK: one in Scotland in chickens in 1959 (H5N1) and three in turkeys in England in 1963 (H7N3), 1979 (H7N7) and 1991 (H5N1). These two previous outbreaks of H5N1 in 1959 and 1991 were due to a different strain of the virus to the south-east Asian strain which is currently causing concern.

The Health Protection Agency, in conjunction with Defra, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), continue to actively monitor the situation across the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

What measures can the public take to minimise their risk from bird flu in the UK?

It remains safe to eat properly cooked poultry meat and products in the European Union, including the UK . WHO has recently reiterated that the H5N1 avian influenza virus is not transmitted to humans through properly prepared and cooked food.

Avian influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty to humans, it requires extremely close and prolonged contact with infected birds for humans to become infected. To date there is no confirmed evidence of sustained human to human transmission of HPAI H5N1 anywhere in the world. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has not changed its current risk assessment that the direct risk to the health of people in Europe is very low, but not zero. The risk is almost entirely confined to those who have close contact with infected poultry.

Poultry keepers in the UK should continue to maintain a close eye on their birds for health problems and maintain good biosecurity measures as set out in the Defra guidance agreed with the industry which can be accessed on its website. The public can telephone the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77.

What measures should poultry workers take now or in the future to protect themselves from Avian Influenza?

Defra has published information and guidance on how to avoid the risk of zoonotic infections, including avian influenza, when working with poultry. This has been produced by a cross Government group and taken input from industry. This guidance has been endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) and is available on the Defra and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) websites. Further advice on personal protective equipment is available on the HSE website.

What should I do if I find a number of dead birds?

If you find die offs involving 10 or more dead birds of the same species or from different species in the same place you should contact the Defra Helpline (08459 33 55 77) and choose the Avian Influenza keypad option which will be open from 8:30am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week.

If you find any single dead birds (or less than 10), including garden birds then you do not need to call the Defra helpline. You should leave it alone, or follow the Defra guidelines for disposal.

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people and some simple hygiene precautions should minimise the risk of infection. It is hard for people to catch avian influenza from birds and the following simple steps are also effective against avian influenza.

What should local residents within a surveillance or restricted zone do?

If dead wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans are found within a surveillance or restricted zone you should contact the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77 and choose the 'Avian Influenza' keypad option which will be open from 8:30am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week. You will be asked for details of your finding and its location. Please see the wild bird surveillance pages on the Defra website for more information. If you find any other single dead birds, including garden birds then you do not need to call the Defra helpline.

Strict personal hygiene should be adhered to when handling dead or diseased animals such as washing hands, removing and washing contaminated clothing and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.

HPAI H5N1 is a disease of birds and does not transmit easily to humans. Almost all human cases of infection with HPAI H5N1 confirmed to date have been associated with close contact with infected poultry. The Agency continues to view the risk to the general public of contracting HPAI H5N1 as very low and there is no need for UK residents to restrict or change their everyday activity.

Should people avoid coming in close proximity with wild birds or visiting farms ( eg stop taking their children to feed the ducks or visiting farms)?

Defra have advised that there is no need for people to reduce their visits to the countryside.

Nonetheless, the general public should take the usual precautions - do not handle dead or diseased wild birds or other dead animals, which always pose a potential disease risk.

Strict personal hygiene should be adhered to when handling dead or diseased animals such as wearing disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling birds, washing hands, nails and forearms thoroughly with soap and water afterwards, removing and washing contaminated clothing and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.

After handling any live, health animal, hands should also be washed thoroughly with soap and water, then dried, especially before eating and touching the face.

My child is rearing a baby chicken as a school project. Should they stop?

The risk of catching avian influenza from rearing baby chickens as part of a school project is negligible. Schools should ensure that eggs used for this purpose come from a reputable source within the UK. Anyone rearing chicks within the exclusion zone must ensure they are kept indoors. Anyone handling animals should follow good hand hygiene practice, especially washing their hands before eating and avoiding touching the face excessively.

These are sensible precautions to follow when handling any animals or birds, or working in areas which may be contaminated with animal waste. Clothing should be washed following manufacturers guidelines after the handling of animals. The public should not handle dead or diseased wild birds or other dead animals.

I rear a small number of birds/poultry in my back garden. Am I at risk?

There is virtually no risk to the UK general public from avian influenza. Defra advice states that poultry keepers in the UK should continue to keep a close eye on their birds for health problems and maintain good biosecurity measures. This is described in the Defra guidance agreed with the industry. Further information on biosecurity measures can be accessed on the Defra website. The HPA recommends that good personal hygiene is followed after touching any animals. If concerned, members of the public can contact the Defra advice line on 08459 33 55 77.

What countries have been affected in the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)?

An up-to-date list of countries is available from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and bi -weekly maps of infected areas are available from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This is also available with the Health Protection Agency algorithm A3 for the management of returning travellers.

Last reviewed: 13 August 2008