The United Kingdom has confirmed its first human case of bird flu in three years, involving a poultry worker from the West Midlands. The individual contracted the A(H5N1) virus, marking a rare instance of bird-to-human transmission in the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The transmission is rare, but it has been observed in the UK on a few occasions, the agency said. “The person (patient) acquired the infection on a farm where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds. The risk to the wider public continues to be very low,” the UKHSA said in a statement.
The case was identified following an outbreak of A (H5N1) in a flock of birds, detected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The patient is reported to be in good health and is currently receiving treatment in a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit.
Genomic analysis revealed that the infected birds carried the D1.2 genotype, a strain circulating in UK birds this season. This differs from strains found in the United States and Canada, where severe human cases were linked to the D1.1 genotype in 2024.
In November 2024, the US Department of Agriculture reported the presence of the D1.2 genotype in pigs and poultry on a backyard farm in Crook County, Oregon. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expressed concerns about the virus’s ability to adapt in pigs, which are vulnerable to influenza viruses affecting humans, birds and other animals.
The UKHSA has launched enhanced surveillance to monitor individuals who had close contact with the infected person, although no human-to-human transmission has been detected. Antiviral treatments have been offered to those at the highest risk of exposure.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss emphasised the importance of preventive measures. “We are seeing a growing number of avian flu cases in birds on both commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country. Implementing scrupulous biosecurity measures will help protect the health and welfare of your birds from the threat of avian influenza and other diseases,” he said in a statement.
According to the BBC, there have been only seven documented cases of human bird flu infections in Europe and the UK since 2021, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The last UK case was recorded in January 2022 when a person in England contracted the virus from their domestic flock of ducks.
Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne added, “We recently added the H5 vaccine, which protects against avian influenza, to our stockpile as part of our preparedness plans.”
In light of the escalating risk, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has also declared a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across England, effective from January 24, 2025.