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Given that December 2021, 10 human cases of avian influenza H5N1 (of clade 2.3.4.4b) have been described globally and involving 1 Oct 2022 and 31 May possibly 2023, influenza H5N1 has been verified in birds at 185 premises in the Uk.
For the duration of the similar time period, H5N1 has also been detected in 1,024 wild birds across the British isles.
Our surveillance and diagnostic knowledge coupled with our genomic sequencing qualities are crucial to the early detection, assessment and reaction to emerging health and biosecurity threats this kind of as avian influenza.
By means of these surveillance programs we purpose to detect potential human avian influenza conditions early, assess the danger to human health and fitness and scale up the general public overall health reaction at tempo.
Our do the job also contributes to initiatives these types of as the WHO Worldwide Influenza Surveillance and Reaction System, aiding the world detect and respond to emerging influenza viruses with pandemic likely.
Improved surveillance programme
Across the British isles and globally, ranges of avian influenza bacterial infections in birds and mammals have enhanced, on the other hand, very couple human circumstances of the H5N1 (2.3.4.4b) avian influenza virus have been noted internationally, building it complicated to assess how really serious the threat is to human wellness. To support improved scientific being familiar with of the danger, in March 2023 UKHSA launched a new asymptomatic avian influenza surveillance programme.
This programme aims to detect achievable animal to human bacterial infections in people today who are exposed to infected birds, for case in point poultry personnel and these concerned in culling birds in contaminated business and domestic premises, so that we can far better fully grasp no matter if transmissions from birds to people come about and if so, how typically. This information will help us to improved comprehend the overall threat to human wellbeing and tailor our general public health reaction.
Individuals using component in the programme are sampled by way of virological nose and throat swabs. Samples are then processed by UKHSA screening laboratories, with any beneficial samples getting despatched to the WHO designated Nationwide influenza reference laboratory in our Colindale lab for genomic examination.
If a optimistic examination is returned, people will be managed in line with present UKHSA guidance. As part of the public well being response to any constructive detections, our wellbeing security teams stick to up all individuals who have been in call with a verified human scenario of avian influenza.
The asymptomatic avian influenza surveillance programme has now productively identified optimistic assessments for probable circumstances in two men and women functioning on an contaminated poultry farm in England. This plan builds on a prior asymptomatic testing programme which took put in winter season 2021/22, integrated all over 120 samples and discovered one particular optimistic situation with a history of unprotected get hold of with birds in a near domestic location.
NHS surveillance
Together with this asymptomatic avian influenza surveillance programme, we are functioning with the NHS to guarantee individuals admitted to intense care with extreme acute respiratory bacterial infections, or influenza-like-diseases are tested for respiratory viruses, together with influenza. UKHSA community health labs and the influenza reference laboratory undertake supplemental tests of samples that are good for influenza A but where normal seasonal influenza is not observed, to validate that the detection is not because of to avian influenza.
Checking of these samples is an crucial system for the early detection of avian influenza / novel influenza viruses. As persons creating avian influenza bacterial infections are probable to be severely unwell, intensive care units are a great place to focus on ailment surveillance this function fits inside wider surveillance programmes alongside the present call management system, exactly where men and women who are uncovered to birds with avian influenza are monitored by UKHSA Health Defense Groups.
The hottest evidence continues to advise that the avian influenza virus we’re looking at circulating in birds does not at this time spread quickly to folks.
Direction from Defra on the indications of hen flu and how to report it in poultry and other birds is offered on GOV.Uk, whilst more guidance on preventing the chance of infection when working with contaminated poultry is published by the Well being and Security Govt.
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