Two 2 people tested positive for the avian flu virus on infected poultry farms in the UK, although neither developed symptoms.

Detection of bird flu in poultry farm workers may be a consequence of contamination of the nose and throat by inhaling the substance on affected farms or possibly actual infection. However, it is difficult to differentiate between the two scenarios in people who have no symptoms.

Depending on the time of exposure and test results, it may be possible for one person to have nose and/or throat contamination from material inhaled on the farm, while it is more difficult for a second person to determine the cause. . Further investigation is ongoing, but in the meantime it has preventive contact tracing for this second individual.

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has not detected evidence of human-to-human transmission and this detection does not change the level of risk to human health, which remains very low for the general population.

Teacher susan hopkinsUKHSA Medical Advisor, commented: “Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses we are seeing circulating in poultry worldwide not easily transmitted to humans. However, we already know that the virus can spread to humans after close contact with infected birds and therefore, through screening programs such as this one, we monitoring people who have been exposed to learn more about this issue”.

Therefore, he emphasized that “it is still important for people to avoid touching sick or dead birds.”

For people most at risk, the UKHSA health protection team is in daily contact to monitor the development of any symptoms.

In an asymptomatic surveillance program, “poultry workers are required to take swabs of the nose and throat to detect the presence of the virus influenza within 10 days of exposure.

As part of its public health response, UKHSA is tracing all persons who have had contact with confirmed human cases of bird flu.