Emergencies

Avian influenza (bird flu) pandemic

This page holds up to date information and advice on bird flu.

Introduction

Avian influenza is a disease of birds, not humans. People can become infected but rarely are. There are many strains of avian influenza viruses which vary in their ability to cause disease. There are several different sub-types of avian influenza, one of the sub-types is H5N1 which has caused the largest number of disease and deaths in the human population.

Within the poultry population H5N1 began circulating widely during mid 2003 when many countries were simultaneously affected. It is now considered endemic (regularly found) in the poultry population in many parts of Indonesia and Vietnam and in some parts of Cambodia, China and Thailand.

Risk

There are 2 main risks:

There is a small risk of direct infection from infected poultry. H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, rapid deterioration and high fatality. It has occurred in previously healthy children and young adults rather than the elderly or immunologically challenged
Of greater concern is the risk that with enough opportunities avian influenza may change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. This would mark the start of a global outbreak

Frequently asked questions

This section contains expert advice provided by the Health Protection Agency, and by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions.

For further information, travel advice, and regular updates please see below:

Health Protection Agency|

This website will give you information that relates to humans.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)|

This website will give you information that relates to animals

What is the present situation?

Reported outbreaks|

You can go here for up to date information on any outbreaks.

Since mid-December 2003, a growing number of countries have reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in chickens and ducks. Infections in several species of wild birds and in pigs have also been reported.

The rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with outbreaks occurring at the same time in several countries, is historically unprecedented and of great concern for human health as well as for agriculture.

Of particular concern, in terms of risks for human health, is the detection of a highly pathogenic strain, known as 'H5N1', as the cause of most of these outbreaks.

The most recent confirmed case of avian influenza within the UK was at the beginning of June 2008 in Oxfordshire. It was a highly pathogenic form called H7N7, no disease was spread out of the contained area and the protection zone has been lifted.

Are we experiencing a bird flu pandemic?

No. There have been severe and prolonged outbreaks in birds in South East Asia but only sporadic and isolated occurrences in the rest of the world. The outbreaks cannot be described as a pandemic; there is not a worldwide outbreak of bird flu in birds and animals at this time.

What is the risk of a human flu pandemic?

We do not know. The H5N1 bird flu virus meets 2 out of 3 conditions necessary to cause a human pandemic. It can infect humans and it causes serious illness, but critically it does not spread easily and sustainably between humans.

If this virus subtype changes to spread easily and sustainably between humans it may have the capacity to cause a pandemic, but we cannot predict if, when or where this will happen.

Nor can we predict whether the virus would retain its ability to cause serious disease. But we can take precautions to protect humans and we can take action where bird flu is identified in poultry.

How do people become infected with avian influenza?

Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection by the avian H5N1 virus.

To date, most human cases have occurred in rural or urban fringe areas where many households keep small poultry flocks, which often roam freely, sometimes entering homes or sharing outdoor areas where children play.

As infected birds shed large quantities of virus in their faeces, opportunities for exposure to infected droppings or to environments contaminated by the virus are abundant under such conditions.

Moreover, because many households in Asia depend on poultry for income and food, many families sell or slaughter and consume birds when signs of illness appear in a flock, rather than disposing of the birds safely, and this practice has proved difficult to change.

Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking.

There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or eggs can be a source of infection.

Poultry keeping practices are very different in the UK and the risks of coming into contact with bird flu very much lower for the general population. There will be some risk for poultry keepers, veterinarians and those who assist them in the advent of an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the UK. Defra and other government departments and agencies have contingencies for this event.

Does the virus spread easily from birds to humans?

No. Though more than 122 human cases have occurred in the current outbreak only approximately 60 individuals have died in Asia. This is a small number compared with the huge number of birds affected and the numerous associated opportunities for human exposure, especially in areas where backyard flocks are common.

It is not presently understood why some people, and not others, become infected following similar exposures.

At present is there evidence of human-to-human infection?

There have been a limited number of well documented cases in which there is evidence to suggest person-to-person transmission but to date there is no evidence that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has adapted to spread easily in humans.

Can I get avian influenza from handling wild birds?

The risk of transmission of avian influenza from wild birds to the general public is small. However, to minimise any risk it is advisable to carry out good general hygiene when handling wild birds, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.

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

If you find 1 or more dead swans/wild fowl (ducks and geese), more than 3 dead birds of the same species or more than 5 dead birds or different species, in the same place, you should contact the Defra Helpline - 08459 335 577 (8.30am - 8pm, 7 days a week) - and choose the avian influenza option. You will be asked for details of your finding and its location.

There is no need to call the Helpline for normal / individual cases of dead birds. A wild bird die off is characterised by an unusual number of wild bird deaths in one area. The usual number of deaths depends on several things; for example, more deaths will be expected if the bird population is high, food is scarcer if the weather is bad. An unusually high number of deaths may involve several birds of 1 species, or a larger number of birds from several species.

If you notice the above numbers of dead wild birds, and are unable to contact the Defra helpline you can contact the local Animal Health Divisional Office directly on 01245 358 383 or night line (answer phone) on 01245 353 632.

Travel advice

Please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for up to date information on living and travelling abroad.