One Case Of Bird-To-Human Avian Flu Confirmed On West Midlands Farm; 2nd H5N1 Case Since 2022

A human case of highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected in England, authorities have said, as bird flu cases escalate across the country. It is only the second symptomatic human case of H5N1 bird flu recorded in the UK, after the first was detected in 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

The individual contracted the infection on a farm in the West Midlands after contact with a large number of infected birds, with authorities describing it as a “very rare event”. Prof Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said: “The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low, despite this confirmed case.”

Since 2021 there have been seven cases of bird flu in humans in England, all of whom had been in direct contact with infected birds. Two developed symptoms, while the rest were asymptomatic.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/27/human-case-h5n1-avian-bird-flu-england-virus-health-security-aoe

The individual was admitted to a high consequence infectious disease unit and is currently well. The case was detected after routine monitoring of people who had been in contact with infected birds. There has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of bird flu and health authorities are testing all of the people who have been in contact with the infected person.