Two poultry workers have tested positive for avian influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu in the UK. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed these findings on Tuesday, May 16th.
No evidence of human-to-human transmission has been detected and the risk for the general population remains very low, UK’s Health agency added.
Both the infected workers have not experienced any symptoms of avian influenza and have since tested negative. According to the officials, both people are known to have recently worked on an infected poultry farm in England.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA said, “Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses we are seeing circulating in birds around the world do not spread easily to people.” She further added, “However, we know that the virus can spread to people following close contact with infected birds. This is why, through screening programmes, we are monitoring people who have been exposed to learn more about this risk.”
The cases were picked up during an asymptomatic testing program for people who have been in contact with infected birds.
One individual is likely to have inhaled the contaminated material on the farm.
While the exact reason for the infection is more difficult to determine for the second person, said the UKHSA. Further investigation is underway, meanwhile, precautionary contact tracing has been undertaken for this second individual.
According to the World Health Organisation, Avian influenza, also known as ‘bird flu’, is a disease primarily affecting birds and is caused by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family.
In a press statement issued to the media, UKHSA says, “The detection of avian influenza in poultry workers can follow contamination of the nose and throat from breathing in the material on the affected farm, or it can be a true infection. It can be difficult to distinguish these in people who have no symptoms.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. The links below offer more information about bird flu.
Health experts believe the disease originated from ducks from Europe and Asia and then spread to birds.
“Globally there is no evidence of the spread of this strain from person to person, but we know that viruses evolve all the time and we remain vigilant for any evidence of changing risk to the population,” added Professor Susan Hopkins the Chief Medical Advisor at the UKHSA.
According to the World Health Organisation, “Avian, swine and other zoonotic influenza infections in humans may cause disease ranging from mild upper respiratory infection (fever and cough) to rapid progression to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock and even death.”
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported more frequently in A (H5N1) infections. Conjunctivitis has also been reported in influenza A(H7).
The first case of avian influenza was reported in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, the disease has been responsible for human outbreaks and deaths in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
According to the WHO, in 2006, avian influenza caused by the highly pathogenic A (H5N1) influenza virus spread rapidly through the Eastern Mediterranean Region with large non-human outbreaks reported in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, occupied Palestinian territories, Pakistan and Sudan.
The incubation period for the A (H5N1) ranges from 2 to 5 days on average and up to 17 days. Symptoms of infection in humans include fever, malaise, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. Severe disease and death may result from a complication of pneumonia. The case fatality rate for avian influenza among humans is much higher than that for seasonal influenza infection.
Globally, since 2003, 873 human infections with A (H5N1) viruses, including 458 deaths (CFR 52%), have been reported to the WHO.
Mayank Bhagwat 