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Contents
1. Background and purpose
This guidance supports public health teams responding to human exposures to influenza A(H5) in birds or other animals. These recommendations are based on information available as of December 2024 and will be updated as further information becomes available. If using this guidance, check regularly for updates to this page, including changes to recommendations in this guidance.
Influenza A(H5) is currently circulating in birds and has caused mammalian outbreaks and human zoonotic infections globally. Due to reassortment with other avian viruses, there are a large number of genotypes, some of which have distinct properties. There is also the potential for mutations to be acquired which facilitate changes in the virus profile or host range.
Following a new process approved by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), a joint UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) risk assessment will be undertaken at the start of each avian influenza season using available genomic, laboratory, and epidemiological data on influenza A(H5) viruses circulating in Europe and early seasonal wild bird detections in the UK. The risk assessment will guide the approach to the public health response to human exposures to birds or other animals infected with influenza A(H5) and associated premises for the season.
If, in the risk assessment, there are no signals of increased risk associated with the viruses circulating (such as frequent genomic features associated with mammalian adaptation, or a high rate of zoonotic cases previously associated with the same virus), this guidance document will cover the management of humans exposed to influenza A(H5) in birds or other animals and infected premises.
If, in the risk assessment, there are any features of a higher risk virus being detected or the situation changes suggestive of an increased risk, this guidance document would not apply. Instead, the ‘strict approach’ in which antivirals are offered to all those in contact with affected birds or other animals and infected premises, regardless of use of PPE, should then be used as an additional safeguard.
If the situation changes during the avian influenza season, the risk assessment will be revisited.
Continued: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-influenza-ah5
- 1. Background and purpose
- 2. Principles of prevention of human infection with influenza A(H5)
- 3. Animal case definitions: influenza A(H5)
- 4. Human exposure to influenza A(H5) from zoonotic source
- 5. PPE for working with suspected or infected birds or other animals
- 6. Management of individuals exposed to influenza A(H5) in birds or other animals
- 7. Zoonotic influenza enhanced surveillance
- 8. Management of symptomatic individuals who have been exposed to influenza A(H5)
- 9. Diagnostic testing, and results
- 10. Results and repeat sampling
- bird and other animal case definitions
- types of human exposure to infected birds or other animals, and the management of those individuals
- personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, antiviral use, and principles for health protection teams (HPTs)
1. Background and purpose
This guidance supports public health teams responding to human exposures to influenza A(H5) in birds or other animals. These recommendations are based on information available as of December 2024 and will be updated as further information becomes available. If using this guidance, check regularly for updates to this page, including changes to recommendations in this guidance.
Influenza A(H5) is currently circulating in birds and has caused mammalian outbreaks and human zoonotic infections globally. Due to reassortment with other avian viruses, there are a large number of genotypes, some of which have distinct properties. There is also the potential for mutations to be acquired which facilitate changes in the virus profile or host range.
Following a new process approved by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), a joint UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) risk assessment will be undertaken at the start of each avian influenza season using available genomic, laboratory, and epidemiological data on influenza A(H5) viruses circulating in Europe and early seasonal wild bird detections in the UK. The risk assessment will guide the approach to the public health response to human exposures to birds or other animals infected with influenza A(H5) and associated premises for the season.
If, in the risk assessment, there are no signals of increased risk associated with the viruses circulating (such as frequent genomic features associated with mammalian adaptation, or a high rate of zoonotic cases previously associated with the same virus), this guidance document will cover the management of humans exposed to influenza A(H5) in birds or other animals and infected premises.
If, in the risk assessment, there are any features of a higher risk virus being detected or the situation changes suggestive of an increased risk, this guidance document would not apply. Instead, the ‘strict approach’ in which antivirals are offered to all those in contact with affected birds or other animals and infected premises, regardless of use of PPE, should then be used as an additional safeguard.
If the situation changes during the avian influenza season, the risk assessment will be revisited.
Continued: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-influenza-ah5