A human condition of pathogenic bird flu has been discovered in England, as the authorities said, as bird flu escalates throughout the country.
This is the second human condition of the H5N1 bird influenza registered in the United Kingdom, after the discovery of the first in 2022.
The individual contracted the infection on a farm in West Midlands after contacting a large number of affected birds, as the authorities describe it as a “very rare event.”
“The risk of bird flu on the general public is very low, despite this confirmed condition,” said Professor Susan Hopkins, the chief medical consultant at Ukhsa.
Quick evidence
What is bird flu?
Display
What is H5N1, the deadly breed of bird flu that sweep the world?
The outbreak of the current bird influenza in Europe began in 2021. By September 2022, H5N1 was registered in 63 species of wild birds in 37 countries, according to a general view of the bird influenza published by the European Food Safety Authority. It hits marine birds in particular because they sit near the breeding season: some colonies suffer from losses ranging from 50 % to 60 %.
Then she crossed the Atlantic Ocean, where she recorded the first American situation in the American Wijeon duck in South Carolina in January 2022. By November, it arrived in South America. More than 40 % of all Peruvian pellets died over a few weeks in early 2023.
It is difficult to determine the number of wild birds that died because many bodies have not been found or calculated. The researchers say it may be millions.
Does it affect other types?
The H5N1 virus has multiple genes that can switch and develop together to quickly spread the virus into a wide range of species. The death of an estimated 20,000 sea lions in Chile and Peru shows that this is a disease that also kills mammals collectively. Black bears, brown bears and polar bears were also killed.
How did you get to the Antarctic, and what will happen next?
The spread of this disease is facilitated by migration methods of wild birds. It took only three months to spread nearly 4000 miles in South America, and it was seen as an inevitable matter, and he would at some point to the Antarctic.
It was reported for the first time in the area in October 2023 between Brown Skoa, Bird Island, off the south of Georgia. Since then, it has spread in the seals of the elephant, fur seals and sea grass. Recently, it has been recorded in the Penguin groups in Antarctica as well.
So far there are no cases registered on the mainland of the southern pole, although researchers expect this to happen in the coming months. This is not reported in Oceania.
Since 2021, there have been seven cases of bird flu in England, all of whom were in direct contact with the affected birds. Two advanced symptoms, while the rest were without symptoms.
The individual has been accepted in the high -scale infectious diseases unit and is currently good. The case was discovered after routine monitoring of people who were in contact with the affected birds.
There was no evidence of bird flu from a person to a person, and he tested all the people who were in contact with the affected person.
“We have strong systems to detect cases early and take the necessary measures, because we know that indirect infections of birds to humans may occur,” Hopkins said.
Human bird flu infections are annoying health officials. Since the beginning of last year, the United States has recorded 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu, most of which have been found in people working on poultry or dairy farms. Most of them are considered moderate, with a decrease in risk to the general public. However, the United States declared its first death of the virus, in Louisiana, this month. Since last September, 10 cases have been reported in China and one in Vietnam.
Bird flu from birds can be transmitted to people, but it usually requires close contact, which is why a danger to humans is generally low. There were no documented cases of bird flu from a person to a person in Britain or anywhere else in Europe.
“While the bird flu is very infectious in birds, this is a very rare event and is very specific to the conditions in this building,” said Christine Midolmis, the chief veterinarian in the United Kingdom.
“We have taken quick measures to reduce the spread of the disease at the location concerned, all infected birds are executed, and the entire building will be cleaned and disinfected according to strict biomard criteria.”
The case comes three days after England and Scotland announced the area of prevention, with the orders of strict hygiene of birds. The government said that the number of escalating cases of bird influenza and the continued levels of increased risk in wild birds were behind their decision. Some eastern provinces in England are subject to strict measures, and all birds will need to be placed in containers.
“We are witnessing an increasing number of bird flu in birds in both the commercial farm and in the backyard herds throughout the country,” said Midolmis. “The implementation of accurate biological security measures will help protect the health and luxury of your birds from the threat of influenza birds and other diseases.”
The government advises people not to touch sick or dead birds, and to report any suspicious bird flu. Andrew Join, Minister of Public Health and Prevention, said: “The safety of the public is very important and we are closely monitoring this position.
He said: “We recently added a H5 vaccine, which protects from bird flu, to our stock as part of our preparation plans.”
