Here’s what you need to know
Avian influenza – commonly known as bird flu – is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds. There are many different types of this disease, but it’s very rare that any of these strains can pass to humans.
Bird flu outbreaks can occur at any point in the year. In the UK, there is often a seasonal increase, and this can be related to the migration patterns of many wild birds. Infected birds can then infect local or sedentary species, either through direct contact or by contact with environmental contamination like feathers or faeces.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in partnership with Animal and Plant Health Agency are responsible for responding to and managing the outbreaks of avian flu.
It’s important to remember that:
- It is incredibly rare for a human to be able to contract bird flu, as they’d need to be in close contact with an infected bird for a prolonged period of time
- The Food Standard agency has said, based on current scientific evidence, that avian influenza poses a very low safety risk to UK consumers
APHA carry out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted by public reports and warden patrols. That surveillance, together with regular risk assessments help government, industry and the general public understand the level of risk avian influenza wild birds pose to poultry and other captive birds at different points in the year.
For more information about avian influenza, full details can be found on www.gov.uk