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Avian Influenza (Flu)

 

Avian influenza has dominated the headlines recently due to the spread of the H5N1 virus between both wild and domestic birds across South East Asia, Russia and parts of Europe. There is global concern that the current strain of the disease could mutate into a form that could become highly contagious and lead to a human pandemic, however the risk of this is currently LOW.

 

This page aims to offer a background to avian influenza & pandemic flu, discuss the risks, and measures being taken in the UK and finally to offer sources of advice to the public.

What is Avian Influenza

Avian influenza sometimes referred to, as bird flu is a highly infectious disease, primarily of birds including commercial wild and pet birds. The disease has been around for many years and the last outbreak in the UK was recorded in 1992 in a flock of 8000 turkeys in Norfolk.

What is a Flu Pandemic

A flu pandemic is a worldwide spread of the viral infection known as influenza (flu) with outbreaks or epidemics occurring in many countries and in most regions of the world.

Why is there so much concern about current outbreaks?

There is concern that the virus may change (reassort or mutate) to emerge as a new virus that is easily transmissible between people and capable of causing disease in people, birds and other animals.

 

Avian and human influenza viruses can exchange genetic material when a person or other animal susceptible to infection with both viruses is simultaneously infected with both viruses. This could create a completely new subtype of the influenza virus to which few, if any, humans would have immunity and which might be able to spread between humans.

 

More information on the risks of this happening and the implications are held on the World Health Organisation website at http://www.euro.who.int/healthtopics (this is an external hyperlink) (WHO) and Health Protection Agency website at http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1160495617087 (this is an external hyperlink).

 

What is the risk?

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which has been detected in most of the recent cases of bird flu in south East Asia is the cause of increased concern by public health bodies worldwide as it has shown the ability to jump from species to species and cause severe disease and high mortality in humans. People are reminded however that this is very rare and the disease is not capable of transmitting from person to person at present, and humans are only usually affected through close contact with live infected birds.

 

There remains the risk however that the mutation of the H5N1 virus with the human forms of the flu virus could lead to the spread of the virus from person to person although again this risk is considered very low.

 

For more information on the risks please visit the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/AboutUs/MinistersAndDepartmentLeaders/ChiefMedicalOfficer/Features/DH_4102997 (this is an external hyperlink).

 

The food standards agency have also released advise that they do not consider avian flu poses any risk at present to food safety i.e. eating poultry and eggs, however the European food standards authority has issued advice to consumers to ensure that these products are cooked thoroughly.

 

More information on food safety and avian flu is available from the Food Standards Agency website.

 

I have heard bird flu will kill millions of people. Is this the same disease?

No. Avian influenza (bird flu) is primarily a disease of birds. It is caused by influenza viruses closely related to human influenza viruses. Transmission to humans in close contact with poultry or other birds occurs rarely and only with some strains of avian influenza.

 

There is potential for mutation of avian influenza viruses to new forms of virus that can causes severe disease in humans and spread easily from person to person. That possibility is a great concern for public health.

 

What is being done?

Animal Outbreaks

There is currently a ban on the import of birds from countries that have bird flu outbreaks, in an attempt to prevent the disease entering the UK although it is impossible to prevent the spread completely as migratory birds may be carrying the virus. The patterns of wild bird migration are however being monitored to provide early alerts.

Should the disease be detected DEFRA will activate its generic animal disease plan to co-ordinate efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and minimise its impacts.

Human Outbreaks

A UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan has also been developed to ensure a similarly co-ordinated response is achieved in the case of a human outbreak. A small number of H5N1 vaccinations have been purchased as part of prudent contingency planning however a fully effective vaccine cannot be developed until the pandemic strain of the virus is detected, although preparatory work has already begun.

 

A copy the Department of Health Contingency Plan is available on their website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4121735 (this is an external hyperlink.

Animal welfare

The public are being asked to be extra vigilant around birds and should they notice a dramatic local incident i.e. large numbers of dead, dying or sick birds not to go near them but to immediately phone the DEFRA hotline on: 08459 33 55 77.

 

Poultry keepers are advised to take precautionary bio security measures and try and keep their poultry away from waterways that could be frequented by migratory birds.

 

More information and guidance on animal health and avian influenza can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm (this is an external hyperlink).

 

Can we vaccinate people against bird flu?

No. There is currently no vaccine to protect people against AI infection or disease, though one is being developed. There is however good evidence that avian flu viruses respond to antiviral drugs, and in the UK oseltamivir or other appropriate antiviral agent would be used for the treatment of avian flu in people exposed to the virus, or to protect people, including poultry workers, who might become exposed to the virus during disease control activities. Such people will be supplied with appropriate antiviral drugs, under prescription, as soon as possible and at least within 48 hours of exposure.

 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) currently advise that routine vaccination of poultry workers and veterinarians with seasonal human flu vaccine is not recommended, but should be used in a confirmed outbreak of avian flu as a protection against the possibility of re-assortment with human flu virus for those people who might be exposed to the virus during disease control activities.

Is it safe to eat poultry or game?

The Food Standards Agency considers that the outbreak of avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. This is because the risk of catching the disease in humans is from being in close contact with live poultry that have the disease and not through eating poultry. There have been no reports of people handling poultry meat getting infected. WHO advice is that there is no health risk from well cooked poultry meat or from eggs.

What can I do?

People are being advised not to panic, but to be aware of the advice available, and listen to the news for regular updates.

 

Planning for an Influenza Pandemic

This section provides signposts to the extensive range of information available to professionals planning for a possible influenza pandemic and to the general public.  In addition to the main websites, it identifies a number of core documents which should contain all the information which planners need for their own work and also to provide information to wider audiences.

 

Background information

The World Health Organisation's website www.who.int (this is an external hyperlink) contains information about the WHO's phases of alert for a pandemic and the current position.

 

Core documents

Explaining Pandemic Flu - A Guide from the Chief Medical Officer.  Revised October 2005.  A guide for both health professionals and members of the public.

 

Planning for an influenza pandemic

The Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/PandemicFlu/index.htm (this is an external hyperlink) has details of a range of documents to assist planners.

 

Core documents
  • The UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan.  Latest version October 2005.
  • Influenza Pandemic Contingency Planning: Operational Guidance for Health Service Planners.  March 2005
  • Pandemic Flu.  Key Facts.  Department of Health.  October 2005
  • Contingency Planning for a Possible Influenza Pandemic.  Cabinet Office February 2006

 

Health Protection and Infection Control

The Health Protection Agency website www.hpa.org.uk (this is an external hyperlink) contains useful scientific and technical information.

 

Local Guidance Documents

Pandemic Influenza Planning: Infection Control.  Hampshire & IOW Health Protection Unit.  Version 3 March 2006.

 

Pandemic Influenza Planning for Nursing and Residential Homes.  Hampshire & IOW Health Protection Unit.  March 2006.

 

General Public Information

 

Core documents (all available on the Department of Health website)

Pandemic Flu.  Important Information for You and Your Family.  Public Information Guide.  Department of Health 2005.

 

Pandemic Flu.  Frequently Asked Questions.  Department of Health.  Comprehensive but simple guide for both planners and the general public.  Department of Health 2005.

 

Advice for those going to or Returning from Bird Flu Affected Areas.  Information leaflet published by the Department of Health February 2006.

 

Local Information
 
News Bulletins

Avian Flu Update by Dr Ian Blair, Health Protection Unit.  Produced every 3/4 weeks.  Widely circulated and available from emergency planning and pandemic influenza planning managers.

 

Influenza Pandemic Update.  Produced monthly by the Strategic Health Authority.  Widely circulated and available from emergency planning and the pandemic influenza planning managers.

 

Information and advice for the public can be found on the Department of Health website below and the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm (this is an external hyperlink).

Up to date information

We will endeavour to keep you updated by this page with the latest information however for further information and resources please visit the following pages.