Bird flu spreads to mammal in Cheshire
An infections disease expert says the risk to humans is low
Bird flu has spread to mammals - with the virus being detected in a fox carcass in Cheshire.
20 animals were tested nationwide in December - of which eight foxes and otters were found to have it. But, the number's now gone up to nine.
In Cheshire East, 10 Red Foxes were tested and one had been infected.
Scientists maintain the risk to humans is very low. Neurologist Tom Solomon spoke with us about it. He's director of the Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool, and director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections.
He's explained to us why this latest outbreak of bird flu has been so devastating:
"We've had outbreaks of bird flu in the past over many yeas but this is the largest outbreak of bird flu that's ever happened globally. Millions of birds have died or been culled - if they're commercial birds in chicken factories.
Because there's so much bird flu around it is now beginning to spill over a little bit into mammals. Foxes and otters have been infected probably by eating dead birds. It's NOT then passed over from fox to fox.
A few months ago, 10KM Bird Flu protection zones were put up around farms in Cheshire and some in Staffordshire to prevent the spread of Bird flu. In these zones people had to:
- follow the biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
- keep a record of anyone that transports or markets poultry or poultry eggs (there are exemptions for table eggs)
- follow the rules for marking, sourcing, cutting, transporting and storing fresh meat and meat products
- comply with any biosecurity rules imposed by a veterinary inspector
- not organise or attend bird gatherings (including bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales)
- and not release game birds
But the last active prevention zone around one of Cheshire poultry farms was revoked last month.
Dr Solomon told us the risk to humans here in Cheshire is low though:
"There have been occasional cases of human infection, these have been very rare.
The worry is that the virus will change sufficiently so it will then pass among mammals. Already in a mink farm in Spain there was transmission between minks, directly from mink to mink. That' s a case of direct mammals transmission and the worry is that might happen with humans.
Dr Solomon continued to say there are measures being put in place to protest people though:
"We know human to human transmission CAN happen, because it did in 1918 during a flu pandemic. So at the minute we're monitoring the situation and have to be ready to act quickly IF things get worse and we do see more human cases. That's where the pandemic institute becomes so important - not just researching the spread of the virus but developing new vaccines for emerging infectious threats".