Can humans get bird flu and what are the symptoms?

It is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds and in rare cases, it can affect humans.

New cases of bird flu have been detected in two poultry workers in the UK, though there are no signs of human-to-human transmission, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

The cases are believed to be linked to exposure to sick birds on a single poultry farm where the two people were known to have recently worked.

The NHS says there are symptoms of bird flu to look out for (Image: Canva)

Can humans get bird flu?

Bird flu can affect humans but it depends on the strain of the virus, the NHS has said.

There are many different types of bird flu viruses and many of them don’t infect humans. However, there are four strains that have caused concern in recent years:

• H5N1 (since 1997)
• H7N9 (since 2013)
• H5N6 (since 2014)
• H5N8 (since 2016)

The NHS says although H5N1, H7N9 and H5N6 don't easily infect people and aren’t usually spread by human contact, there have been several people infected around the world, resulting in a number of deaths.

The H5N1 virus is the most prevalent strain in circulation at the moment.

For the first time in February 2021, H5N8 was found to have infected a small number of people in Russia.

How does bird flu spread to humans?

The virus can be spread by close contact with an infected bird that is dead or alive.

This includes:

• touching infected birds
• touching droppings or bedding
• killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking

How to prevent bird flu

If you are visiting an area or foreign country that has recently had an outbreak of bird flu, you can follow these steps to prevent your chances of getting the virus.

The NHS says:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap, especially before and after handling food, in particular raw poultry
• use different utensils for cooked and raw meat
• make sure meat is cooked until steaming hot
• avoid contact with live birds and poultry

Seabirds have been some of the species most affected by bird flu in the UK. Senior Policy Officer Claire Smith visits RSPB Scotland's Fowlsheugh nature reserve at the start of another breeding season.

Watch more here: https://t.co/VOTwDwkg2g pic.twitter.com/hFszG5AWHp

— RSPB Scotland (@RSPBScotland) March 6, 2023

What are the symptoms of bird flu?

The main symptoms of bird flu can appear very quickly, reports the NHS, and include:

• a very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery
• aching muscles
• headache
• a cough or shortness of breath

Other early symptoms may also appear within three to five days after you have been infected, such as diarrhoea, sickness, stomach pain, chest pain, bleeding from the nose and gums and conjunctivitis.

More severe complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome can develop days after initial symptoms.

Use NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or call NHS 111 if you experience any symptoms of bird flu and have visited an area affected by bird flu in the past 10 days.