Two UK poultry farm workers test positive for bird flu

BIRD flu has been detected in two poultry workers in the UK – though there are no signs of human-to-human transmission.

The cases are believed to be linked to exposure to sick birds on a single poultry farm where the two people were known to have recently worked.

Neither suffered symptoms and both cases – the second and third recorded – were found during screening, according to the UK Health and Security Agency.

UKHSA is running a programme of testing workers who deal with birds infected with avian flu, and is also testing those whose flocks have not been infected. The first case reported was detected via a nose swab – experts believe it is likely this worker may have inhaled the virus.

The second person is thought to be a more complicated case and it is unclear whether they have suffered a genuine infection or whether they have inhaled the virus while at work. Further investigation is under way but precautionary contact tracing has been undertaken for this person. Both people are now testing negative, UKHSA said, adding there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.

UKHSA said the cases do not change the level of risk to human health, which remains ‘very low to the general population’.

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: ‘We know already that the virus can spread to people following close contact with infected birds and this is why we are monitoring people who have been exposed to learn more about this risk. Globally, there is no evidence of spread of this strain from person to person, but we know viruses evolve all the time and we remain vigilant for any evidence of changing risk.’

The first person in the UK to catch the new H5N1 strain of bird flu was Alan Gosling, 79, who lived with about 20 ducks inside his home in Devon. He noticed several birds falling ill shortly before Christmas in 2021. He then tested positive for the virus but has since recovered.