Two Poultry Workers Test Positive for Bird Flu in the United Kingdom

VIVA – Bird flu has been detected in two poultry workers in the United Kingdom (UK) according to a report by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA). Currently, the two patients have recovered and are not infecting others so the spread of the virus can be minimized. 

UKHSA detected the Influenza A (H5) virus infection after introducing an asymptomatic testing program for workers who had been in contact with infected animals. 

The patient had no symptoms of avian influenza and both tested negative. They had recently worked on an infected poultry farm in the UK. 

"Inhaled materials on the farm likely caused one of the workers to suffer nasal and/or throat contamination," the UKHSA said based on exposure times and test results. 

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Ilustrasi flu burung.

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• Antara FOTO.

The health agency admitted that it is difficult to determine how the infection occurred in the second individual. However, precautionary contact tracing for this second individual has been put in place while further investigations are conducted. Fortunately, the UKSHA said there are no signs of human-to-human transmission. 

"Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses we see circulating in poultry around the world do not spread easily to humans," Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UKHSA, said. 

However, researchers already know that the virus can spread to people after close contact with infected birds. Through screening programs like this one, researchers are monitoring people who have been exposed to learn more about this risk.

"Globally, there is no evidence of person-to-person spread of this strain, but we know that viruses evolve all the time and we remain alert for evidence of changing risk in populations. It is important that people avoid touching sick or dead birds, and that they follow Defra's advice on reporting," Hopkins explained. 

Previously, a woman was confirmed dead from H3N8 bird flu infection in China. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this is the first known human death from this strain of bird flu in China. 

As information, H3N8 is known to have circulated since 2002 after first appearing in North American waterfowl. The virus is known to infect horses, dogs, and seals. 

According to data, it had not been detected in humans before two non-fatal cases emerged, both also in China, in April and May last year. 

The deceased woman was 56 years old and from Guangdong Province in southeast China. She fell ill on February 22, was hospitalized for severe pneumonia on March 3, and died on March 16, the WHO said. 

"The patient had several underlying conditions. He had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of illness, and a history of wild birds around his home," the UN health agency said in a statement on Tuesday. 

Initially suspected pneumonia, the patient was found to be in close contact with live poultry. However, there has been no further explanation regarding the possible human-to-human transmission of the case according to expert predictions. 

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Previously, a woman was confirmed dead from H3N8 bird flu infection in China. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this is the first known human death from this strain of bird flu in China.