The H5N1 pressure of chook flu has the “potential to grow to be a pandemic”, in response to an skilled on the UK Well being Safety Company.
Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and rising infections at UKHSA, defined that whereas the virus is “not new”, and the chance to the general public stays low, its options have modified in recent times.
It follows a confirmed case of bird flu in a single sheep in England for the primary time on Monday.
On the company’s annual convention in Manchester on Tuesday, Mr Pebody described that information as “a brand new twist to the story” however careworn the chance “hasn’t essentially modified”.
“H5N1 has the potential to grow to be a pandemic, a future pandemic. And in order that’s why we’re watching that so intently and managing it so intently.
“We all know that the virus can infect different animal species. We have to clearly look into this just a little bit extra, perceive higher what’s occurred right here and perceive what the chance is to human well being,” he mentioned.
Evaluation: Authorities on high alert over bird flu
The an infection was detected in a single sheep in Yorkshire after routine surveillance of livestock the place avian influenza H5N1 had been confirmed in captive birds.
On the time, Dr Meera Chand, rising an infection lead on the UKHSA, mentioned that “present proof means that the avian influenza viruses we’re seeing circulating world wide don’t unfold simply to folks” and “the chance of avian flu to most of the people stays very low”.
The virus was additionally detected in dairy cattle in quite a lot of US states final spring and Sky Information revealed in December that horses can harbour the virus too.
In 2024, dairy cows examined optimistic for the H5N1 pressure of chook flu in a number of US states. Pic: AP
Human case in West Midlands
Mr Pebody mentioned: “H5N1 shouldn’t be new. It has been round for fairly a protracted whereas. It first popped up within the again within the Nineties, mid-Nineties, but it surely’s waxed and waned through the years. Over the previous three or 4 years, its options have modified”.
Fowl flu in folks is uncommon, though in January, an individual within the West Midlands area tested positive after being contaminated whereas on a farm after “shut and extended contact” with contaminated birds.
Whereas folks will be contaminated from birds, it’s human-to-human transmission which actually considerations scientists. Pic: iStock
What are the signs?
Signs can differ relying on the pressure however can embody a flu-like sickness with fever, physique aches, cough, sore throat, sore eyes and runny nostril.
Learn extra from Sky Information:
What you should know about bird flu
Recovery from bird flu ‘painfully slow’
Bird flu infects horses without symptoms
On Tuesday, the UKHSA printed its first annual report detailing the infectious ailments impacting England, which included influenza A (H5N1) as an “rising an infection”, together with mpox and swine influenza.
It mentioned its chook flu surveillance programmes, which contain taking samples from folks uncovered to contaminated birds, detected a “small quantity” of employees who had been asymptomatic [infected but not showing symptoms], with “one scientific an infection in January 2025”.
“There has but to be demonstrated human-to-human transmission of avian flu regardless of intensive latest surveillance,” the report added.
An inventory of “precedence pathogens” printed by UKHSA additionally contains the viral household orthomyxoviridae, which influenza A viruses belong to.
In December, the federal government agreed a deal to buy more than five million doses of a vaccine for a pressure of chook flu to bolster pandemic preparedness.
Mr Pebody mentioned: “We do have to be ready for the subsequent rising an infection and certainly, the subsequent pandemic. In order that’s very a lot the core enterprise of the company.!
