Avian flu
In the United Kingdom, there have been 170 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022. There have been 280 cases of (HPAI) H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.
Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law people must follow the hygiene and disease prevention rules. This is to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.
Bird flu mainly affects birds. It can affect humans and other mammals. The UK Health Security Agency advise that the risk from this bird flu strain is very low.
Available surveillance data reported by APHA do not suggest widespread mammalian adaptation of this virus (low to moderate confidence).
APHA report that there is evidence of direct spill over from birds into some ‘scavenger’ wild mammalian species within the UK (and others noted outside the UK). As a result, the current risk assessment is at level 3.
The species affected (foxes and otters) are presumed to have direct highlevel exposure to infected birds based on feeding behaviour and food preferences.
In 2022, 56 mammals were tested, of which 8 were positive. Enhanced mammalian surveillance was initiated in January 2023, targeting mammals found dead near known areas of avian influenza transmission. In 2023 to date 2 animals have been tested, of which one fox was positive.