Avian flu spreads from birds to mammals in UK

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The UK is facing its largest ever outbreak of bird flu among mammals, including animals such as otters and foxes.

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About 208 million birds have died due to this disease. At least 200 cases have also been reported in mammals.

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Animals and humans exposed to the virus in the UK will now have more targeted surveillance and testing, and will be quarantined more quickly.

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The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) still advises that avian flu is primarily a disease of birds, but experts around the world are looking at the risks of it spreading to other species.

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The virus has been found in a range of mammals in many countries around the world, including grizzly bears in the US and mink in Spain, as well as dolphins and seals.

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In the UK, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) tested 66 mammals, including seals, that nine otters and foxes were positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.

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A mutation of the virus was found in animals that could make it easier to infect mammals, but there was no evidence of transmission between mammals.

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The APHA said the likelihood of any widespread infection in GB mammals was very low.

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Since October 2021, when the latest outbreak began, there have been five confirmed human cases of the H5N1 virus, including one in the UK and one death in China.

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Last month, a nine-year-old girl in Ecuador was found infected with avian influenza A (H5).

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