Bird flu re-affirmed case in England

H7 pathogen: avian influenza case in England

03/02/2015

In southern England, a new bird flu case has been detected. It concerns the subtype H7, which as „far less serious“ be classified as other pathogens. There is little risk to the public.

Very low risk to the public
In the south of England bird flu broke out on a poultry farm, the news agency dpa reports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday evening in London said that the chickens would be culled in the yard in the county of Hampshire. In addition, a protection zone has been set up. According to the information, it is not the highly infectious pathogen H5N8, the experts have demonstrated, inter alia, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but to the subtype H7, the ministry as „far less serious“ be classified. According to the competent authorities, there is little risk to the public and no risk to the safety of food.

Bird flu in Europe
The H5N8 pathogen was also detected at a duck breeding farm in northern England last November. There were also several cases in Germany and the Netherlands. Whether this subtype, which previously only circulated in East Asia, came to Europe via wild birds or the feed and poultry trade, has still not been clarified. Different types of viruses pose different risks. For example, H7N9 in China has caused several deaths in recent months. Infections are often not recognized in time, because bird flu symptoms are similar to those of flu. Patients may experience fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea and abdominal pain. (Ad)