The individual contracted the infection on a farm.
The U.K. has reported a « rare » human case of bird flu, the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced today, but the risk to the wider public remains « very low. »
The case was detected in the West Midlands. The individual acquired the infection on a farm, after « close and prolonged contact » with infected birds, the agency said.
The patient is currently well and authorities are tracing all individuals who have been in contact with the confirmed case.
« The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low despite this confirmed case, » Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said. « We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur. »
Bird-to-human transmission of H5N1 avian influenza is rare, but it has happened a few times before in the U.K., the agency said.
In recent months, the country has stepped up its surveillance and control measures to contain the spread of bird flu after seeing a rise of cases in wild birds and several outbreaks in poultry farms.
