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Has the UKHSA been doing any surveillance? UKHSA recently launched a new asymptomatic avian flu surveillance programme to enhance the United Kingdom’s ability to rapidly detect animal-to-human transmission of avian influenza People who have had contact with an infected bird or mammal are being asked to take nose and throat swabs throughout the 21 days following exposure, which will be checked for the presence of the virus A finger prick blood test will also be taken to look for antibodies against the virus, which will help UKHSA explore the immune response Those invited to take part include poultry workers and staff involved in culling infected birds
The study sits alongside the existing contact management process, where people who are exposed to birds with avian influenza enter a period of monitoring by UKHSA Health Protection Teams Between October 2022 and 14 February 2023, 2310 people have been monitored through this process, with samples taken from people who developed any flu or cold-like symptoms in the 21 days following their contact with an infected bird(Dr Meera Chand)Could H5N1 start spreading among humans? There is no evidence yet of sustained human to human transmission, and it has been deemed of low risk to people, Angel Desai, assistant clinical professor of internal medicine at UC Davis Health, told the webinar There have been 14 cases of H5 flu in humans in the U
S since 2022, all in people exposed to poultry or dairy farms, most of them this yearLewis: In early April, H5N1 was reported in a person in the US
—a dairy worker who likely had contact with infected cows That person’s only symptom was eye redness and inflammation, or conjunctivitis, so not a full-blown respiratory infection, and they seem to have recovered fullyKreuder Johnson: That is the billion-dollar question, right? In some ways we are and in some ways we aren't I think we still have a lot of growth to do in terms of how we can prepare and head off things
But I'm really, as always, impressed by our colleagues in the government who work incredibly hard to keep an eye on these thingsAt the same time, there is an ongoing multi-state outbreak in dairy cattle The CDC reported the first of four cow-to-human transmission in April 2024 in a dairy worker in Texas; that case was described in a letter to the editor published in The New England Journal of Medicine In the months that followed, more cases have been reported in other Western and Midwestern states
All viruses change over time – particularly influenza viruses But as influenza viruses move amongst and between human and animal populations, genetic modifications in the virus can occur, and these changes can potentially have implications for how the infection may behave in humans This is why surveillance at the animal-human interface is so important, why we follow any changes in the virus closely, and why we want to prevent and detect any transmission between animals and humansThe risk to humans remains low at the moment but we advise people to always avoid touching or collecting dead or sick wild animals, to avoid potential infection with the virus, and instead report them to the local competent authorities
People involved in the culling and disposing of infected birds or mammals can be at higher risk of exposure and should be trained on the proper use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)If they develop respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficult breathing, they should seek medical assistance and be rapidly tested, and precautionary measures should be put in place to prevent further spread among humansWHO also recommends routine seasonal influenza vaccines for poultry workers to prevent a viral mutation that could make human-to-human transmission easierCDC is working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds/animals and test those people who develop symptoms
CDC also has recommendations for clinicians on monitoring, testing, and antiviral treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza A virus infectionsHealth officials are closely monitoring the situation, and some worrying observations have already been documented Recently, a Canadian teenager who caught bird flu was hospitalized When scientists analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus taken from the teen, they reportedly found that it had mutated in a way that could make it more transmissible among people, similar to the mutation Paulson’s team identified in their study
(Luckily, though, the teen doesn’t seem to have infected anyone else)In Michigan, Nerio said she is going to keep showing up for workers, telling them what she and other health workers learn about H5N1 and the risk it poses to humans Right now, education is her most effective tool to help people working to make a better life in this countrySince 2022, a new, highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 influenza or “bird flu” has spread worldwide
In the US it has affected over 100 million birds and for the first time, spread into dairy cows and a small, but growing, number of people At UC Davis, experts in One Health — an approach that considers the health of people, animals and the environment together — are on high alert
They range from no symptoms to mild flu-like illness to severe illness that requires hospitalization The dairy worker infected in the US in April reported mild illness, with the main symptom being conjunctivitis (irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, a clear mucous membrane that protects the eye)
Other common symptoms are consistent with influenza, according to the CDC:The reason that bird flu (also known avian influenza, H5N1 and HPAI) is in the news is that it’s making our milk-producing cows sick and people who work with affected poultry and cows have also become sick That’s unusual and it’s why people are paying attention to this disease Usually, bird flu spreads in wild birds and poultry, such as chickens and turkeys Sometimes it can make mammals, including people, sick
S. it has affected over 100 million birds and for the first time, spread into dairy cows and a small, but growing, number of people. At UC Davis, experts in One Health — an approach that considers the health of people, animals and the environment together — are on high alert.They range from no symptoms to mild flu-like illness to severe illness that requires hospitalization. The dairy worker infected in the U.S. in April reported mild illness, with the main symptom being conjunctivitis (irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, a clear mucous membrane that protects the eye). Other common symptoms are consistent with influenza, according to the CDC:The reason that bird flu (also known avian influenza, H5N1 and HPAI) is in the news is that it’s making our milk-producing cows sick and people who work with affected poultry and cows have also become sick. That’s unusual and it’s why people are paying attention to this disease. Usually, bird flu spreads in wild birds and poultry, such as chickens and turkeys. Sometimes it can make mammals, including people, sick.
