A strain of avian flu that has infected humans in the past, H5N1, have been confirmed in Scotland and England in recent weeks. The widespread effect of the outbreak has prompted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to extend protection, surveillance and mandatory housing orders across the two countries.
This specific strain was one of the first forms of bird flu able to infect humans, discovered in 1997, but it’s still rare to be infected and it doesn’t usually spread between humans. However, the World Health Organisation confirmed on January 10 that in the past 11 years, H5N1 strain infected 954 people and caused 464 deaths.
As a result, the strain has a 49% fatality rate in humans although it’s suspected the real fatality rate could be lower as mild cases of bird flu in humans may not be identified. The NHS warns bird flu can only be spread to humans by close contact with an infected bird, whether it’s dead or alive.
It highlights: “You can’t catch bird flu through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of bird flu.” Additionally, washing your hands often with warm water and soap particularly before and after handling raw poultry and other food can help prevent transmission.
Early symptoms of bird flu in humans can arise quickly, including a high temperature, aching muscles, headaches, cough or shortness of breath. Other common symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach and chest pain, bleeding from the nose or gums and conjunctivitis.
Once infected, it can take between three and five days for the first symptoms to appear and as the disease progresses, without treatment it can cause severe issues like pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome. There is no vaccine for bird flu in humans but getting prompt treatment such as antivirals can keep these severe complications at bay.
The effect bird flu has on avian populations is far more extreme as a common strategy to prevent the spread is to cull entire flocks that have had confirmed cases. Just last week it was revealed one million hens at one of the UK’s largest poultry farms were set to be culled as a result of bird flu.
Restrictions for bird owners, whether its pets or commercial flocks, have been put in place by the government. Some counties with confirmed outbreaks are facing the strictest rules, being forced to keep birds indoors.
UK chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss shared: “I urge bird keepers to check which requirements apply to them. Continue to exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”