England: Human H5N1 avian influenza case reported in West Midlands
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported today on a confirmed case of influenza A(H5N1) in a person in the West Midlands region.
According to officials, the individual acquired the infection on a farm, where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds.
The patient is currently well and was admitted to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit.
Bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza is rare and has previously occurred a small number of times in the UK. UKHSA says the risk to the wider public continues to be very low.
The birds were infected with the DI.2 genotype, one of the viruses known to be circulating in birds in the UK this season. This is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US.
Although there has been no demonstrated human-to-human transmission despite extensive recent surveillance of influenza A(H5N1), UKHSA has been tracing all individuals who have been in contact with the confirmed case of avian influenza. Those at highest risk of exposure have been offered antiviral treatment. This is done to reduce the chance that any virus they have been exposed to will be able to cause infection.
The case was detected after the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified an outbreak of avian influenza(H5N1) in a flock of birds. UKHSA carried out routine monitoring on people who had been in close contact with the infected birds.
Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:
The safety of the public is paramount, and we are monitoring this situation closely.
The risk of wider or onward transmission is very low, however the UK remains prepared and ready to respond to any current and future health threats.
We recently added the H5 vaccine, which protects against avian influenza, to our stockpile as part of our preparedness plans.