Latest news with #SusanHopkins
Times of Oman
11-02-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Is US bird flu outbreak in cattle a global risk to humans?
Nevada: US authorities have said the detection of a different strain of avian influenza, the D1.1 genotype, in dairy cows in January proves that bird flu has now spread from wild birds into cattle twice in an outbreak that started in late 2023. The genotype refers to the genetic makeup of a virus within a group of virus types. In this case, it is the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1. In March 2024, authorities in the US confirmed the outbreak had originated from genotype B3.13. That type has infected over 950 cattle herds in 16 US states and spread to Canada. D1.1 was detected in milk collected as part of a surveillance programme launched in December 2024. Is bird flu spreading internationally? Yes, it appears that bird flu from the current US outbreak may have spread beyond North America. In January, UK authorities confirmed a second human case of H5N1 avian influenza. The first was detected in 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. "The risk of avian flu to the public remains very low despite this confirmed case," said Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, in a statement on January 27. However, many governments have been buying up vaccine stocks and ramping up precautionary measures in response to the circulating virus. The bird flu variant outbreak has mainly affected the US, with infections among cattle, people and pets. Though no direct, human-to-human transmission cases were recorded up to January 2025, there are concerns the H5N1 variant could be one mutation away from becoming a major public health concern. A study published in the journal Science in December 2024 found that a single genetic change to the circulating H5N1 had enabled it to jump more easily from other mammals to humans. "We're particularly worried about pigs because we know from many other outbreaks that pigs are a mixing vessel for influenza viruses," Meghan Davis, an environmental health researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told DW's Science Unscripted podcast. Is a new pandemic brewing? Before the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, health scientists warned there was a risk of an emerging pandemic. Ultimately, it was a novel coronavirus, not an influenza strain, that triggered the pandemic. But the chance of a global influenza-driven event was — and is — cause for concern. "With H5N1, there's a big unknown," Peter Jay Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in the US state of Texas, told Science Unscripted. "We know there's a likelihood that there could be a significant bird flu pandemic, maybe resembling the 1918 flu pandemic," Hotez said, "but we can't say when that will be." Other nations are increasing surveillance and precautionary measures. The UK government is known to have ordered at least 5 million doses of an H5 influenza vaccine. In November 2024, one case of H5N1 was confirmed at a poultry farm in Cornwall, in the southwest of England. "I agree with what the UK did because it's not like you can press a button and suddenly have millions of doses of [H5 vaccine] appear," Hotez said. "Making flu vaccines in the traditional way is a slow process." Hotez described the rate of pandemic threats as having a "regular cadence," pointing to SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012, which were dangerous but did not balloon to a global scale. A pandemic was declared due to H1N1 influenza in 2009, though its impact didn't match that of COVID-19. "We have to get ready for H5N1. We've also got this rise in Ebola and other filovirus [severe hemorrhagic] infections that we're seeing — we have to be ready for that," Hotez said. "And we're starting to see [a rise in] mosquito-transmitted virus infections like dengue and chikungunya and then Zika virus infections both in Southern Europe and the southern United States." Trump's health advisers are 'contrarians, activists' Scientists and health experts in the United States have expressed concern about several choices that President Donald Trump has made for his new administration. Among Trump's picks are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Dave Weldon for the top job of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy and Weldon are known for their opposition to vaccination. Although Trump was president at the outset of the COVID pandemic and led massive investments in vaccine supply security through programs such as Operation Warp Speed, Hotez said the absence of people with established experience in health issues in Trump's new administration is concerning. "[In Trump's first administration] they were pretty mainstream public health physicians and public health scientists, but this new round is something that's quite different — they're contrarians, they're activists, they've openly campaigned against vaccines and interventions," Hotez said. Health experts in other nations are closely watching how H5N1 is handled in North America. "The current incidence of infection in the US demands we closely study samples of viruses from humans and other animals," said Martin Schwemmle, a virologist at Freiburg University Medical Center. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in a November 2024 report that it was continuing to monitor the US and Canadian situations "together with partner organizations in Europe and will continue to update its assessment of the risk for humans ... as new information becomes available." It also recommended increased surveillance and monitoring of people exposed to avian influenza and that doctors and nurses ask patients whether they have had any contact with animals.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
World-first genetic warning system for future pandemics and diseases launches in UK
A world-first genetic warning system for future pandemics and emerging diseases has been launched in the UK. The surveillance programme, run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will see experts rapidly checking NHS samples for pathogens that could lead to serious outbreaks. Experts believe if such a system had been around pre-Covid-19, the virus would have been spotted much more quickly and there would have been early signs it was taking root in the UK. Traditionally, genomic methods rely on scientists or medics knowing what virus or bacteria they are looking for when they test a swab sample. But a more detailed method – known as metagenomics – means they do not need to know what the pathogen is, and they can test samples to find new ones. This is a hugely exciting development which will increase our ability to respond at speed to new and emerging pathogens and will help to ensure that we are as prepared as possible to act quickly and effectively to protect the public from future threats Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA All this information is also now being fed to the UKHSA at a national level, bringing together samples from NHS hospitals across England to spot trends and emerging clusters of disease. By significantly improving the identification of new outbreaks as well as enabling the source of an outbreak to be better understood, the UKHSA said predictions could also be made about the effectiveness of potential treatments, and any concerning mutations could be identified. Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, said: 'Genomics has been a crucial aspect of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic from the very start, and the UK's enormous technical expertise in this area has allowed us to play a leading role in the identification and analysis of Covid-19 variants as they emerge.' She said the new mSCAPE programme will allow 'us to use the UK's leading genomics capability to conduct community surveillance… for the first time anywhere in the world' and use the data to improve health globally. She added: 'This is a hugely exciting development which will increase our ability to respond at speed to new and emerging pathogens and will help to ensure that we are as prepared as possible to act quickly and effectively to protect the public from future threats.' The mSCAPE programme is another great example of how the UK is leading the world in this field Professor Dame Sue Hill Professor Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer for NHS England and senior responsible officer for NHS Genomics, said: 'Genomics is revolutionising the way we predict, prevent, diagnose and treat illness – whether it's diagnosing rare conditions in children more quickly, helping personalise cancer treatments to make them more effective, or identifying people at greater risk from kidney disease. 'The mSCAPE programme is another great example of how the UK is leading the world in this field.' The programme is being led by UKHSA but also includes the University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, and the NHS Clinical Respiratory Metagenomics Network led by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Human case of bird flu found in West Midlands, UKHSA says
A human case of bird flu has been found in England, health officials have said. The virus was detected in a person in the West Midlands region who is said to have been infected while on a farm, having had "close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds". The birds had the DI.2 genotype - which is known to be circulating in birds in the UK this season, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Monday. It is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US. Anyone the individual has been in contact with has been contacted by officials and those at highest risk of exposure have been offered antiviral treatment, the agency said in a statement. The person concerned is "currently well" and being treated at a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit. The risk to the wider public is "very low", the agency said, adding that it's rare for people to catch the H5N1 virus, also called avian influenza, from birds. No cases of human-to-human transmission have been detected despite what the UKHSA called "extensive recent surveillance of influenza A(H5N1)" amid multiple bird flu outbreaks in birds across the country. The case was detected as part of routine surveillance for bird flu by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which discovered an outbreak in a flock of birds. Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said the risk of avian flu to the general public is still "very low", and there is currently "no evidence of onwards transmission" from the case. She said the public should not "touch sick or dead birds" and follow Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) advice about reporting any suspected cases. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said it's very rare for a human to catch the disease, even though it is "highly contagious" in birds. All the infected birds are being "humanely culled" and the premises "cleaned and disinfected". She warned of a "growing number of avian flu cases in birds on both commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country". Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said his department is "monitoring this situation closely", but the risk of wider or onward transmission is "very low". The government has stocked up on H5 vaccine, which protects against bird flu, he said. Read more from Sky News:'Monstrous' paedophile gang jailed Human-to-human transmission of the disease has only been seen very rarely and never in Europe or the UK. There have been seven human cases in the UK since 2021; this is the second in which an individual has shown symptoms. On Saturday, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer ordered a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) covering the whole of England and Scotland following the rise in cases. Last month, scientists at the University of Glasgow said bird flu can infect horses without causing any symptoms, raising fears that the virus could be spreading undetected.
Sky News
27-01-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Human case of bird flu found in West Midlands, UKHSA says
A human case of bird flu has been found in England, health officials have said. The virus was detected in a person in the West Midlands region who is said to have been infected while on a farm, having had "close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds". The birds had the DI.2 genotype - which is known to be circulating in birds in the UK this season, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Monday. It is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US. Anyone the individual has been in contact with has been contacted by officials and those at highest risk of exposure have been offered antiviral treatment, the agency said in a statement. The person concerned is "currently well" and being treated at a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit. The risk to the wider public is "very low", the agency said, adding that it's rare for people to catch the H5N1 virus, also called avian influenza, from birds. No cases of human-to-human transmission have been detected despite what the UKHSA called "extensive recent surveillance of influenza A(H5N1)" amid multiple bird flu outbreaks in birds across the country. The case was detected as part of routine surveillance for bird flu by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which discovered an outbreak in a flock of birds. Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said the risk of avian flu to the general public is still "very low", and there is currently "no evidence of onwards transmission" from the case. She said the public should not "touch sick or dead birds" and follow Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) advice about reporting any suspected cases. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said it's very rare for a human to catch the disease, even though it is "highly contagious" in birds. All the infected birds are being "humanely culled" and the premises "cleaned and disinfected". She warned of a "growing number of avian flu cases in birds on both commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country". Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said his department is "monitoring this situation closely", but the risk of wider or onward transmission is "very low". The government has stocked up on H5 vaccine, which protects against bird flu, he said. Human-to-human transmission of the disease has only been seen very rarely and never in Europe or the UK. There have been seven human cases in the UK since 2021; this is the second in which an individual has shown symptoms. On Saturday, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer ordered a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) covering the whole of England and Scotland following the rise in cases. Last month, scientists at the University of Glasgow said bird flu can infect horses without causing any symptoms, raising fears that the virus could be spreading undetected.
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Human case of bird flu recorded in the UK as prevention zone launched
A case of a human with brid flu has been recorded in the West Midlands. The local resident has contracted bird flu after prolonged contact with infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed. This marks a rare occurrence, with only seven cases identified in the UK since 2021. The UKHSA has stressed that the risk to the general public remains 'very low.' The individual, who displayed symptoms but is now recovering, is receiving care in a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit, a standard procedure for such cases. The infection was traced to a farm where birds carried the DI.2 genotype of the virus, a strain currently circulating among avian populations in the UK. Importantly, this differs from the strains affecting mammals and birds in the US. The case was detected through routine bird flu surveillance. As a precautionary measure, anyone who had contact with the infected individual, particularly those at higher risk of exposure, has been offered antiviral treatment. Symptoms of Avian Flu in humans The Nhs says the main symptoms of bird flu can appear very quickly and include: a very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery aching muscles headache a cough or shortness of breath Other early symptoms may include: diarrhoea sickness stomach pain chest pain bleeding from the nose and gums conjunctivitis It usually takes 3 to 5 days for the first symptoms to appear after you've been infected. Within days of symptoms appearing, it's possible to develop more severe complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Prevention zone A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force for the whole of England and Scotland at noon on Saturday in a bid to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds. It is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow strict rules to protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu – including keeping birds indoors. Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: 'The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low despite this confirmed case. 'We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur. 'Currently there is no evidence of onwards transmission from this case. 'People are reminded not to touch sick or dead birds and it's important that they follow Defra advice about reporting any suspected avian influenza cases.' How bird flu spreads to humans Human-to-human transmission of bird flu has never been documented in Europe or the UK, though has occasionally happened abroad. Bird flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird (dead or alive). This includes touching infected birds, touching droppings or bedding, killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking Markets where live birds are sold can also be a source of bird flu. Avoid visiting these markets if you're travelling to countries that have had an outbreak of bird flu. You can check health advice for the country you're visiting on the TravelHealthPro website. You can't catch bird flu through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of bird flu. Health minister Andrew Gwynne, said the safety of the public is paramount. 'The risk of wider or onward transmission is very low, however the UK remains prepared and ready to respond to any current and future health threats,' he added. 'We recently added the H5 vaccine, which protects against avian influenza, to our stockpile as part of our preparedness plans.' The UK outbreak comes as The US is dealing with the results of an epidemic in 2022. UK chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: 'While avian influenza is highly contagious in birds, this is a very rare event and is very specific to the circumstances on this premises. 'We took swift action to limit the spread of the disease at the site in question, all infected birds are being humanely culled, and cleansing and disinfection of the premises will be undertaken all to strict biosecure standards. 'This is a reminder that stringent biosecurity is essential when keeping animals. 'We are seeing a growing number of avian flu cases in birds on both commercial farms and in backyard flocks across the country. 'Implementing scrupulous biosecurity measures will help protect the health and welfare of your birds from the threat of avian influenza and other diseases.' Professor Jonathan Ball, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), said: 'Even in the rare cases where people do become infected, onward human to human transmission is very unlikely. 'However, that doesn't mean we can be complacent. 'There is always the risk that the virus can evolve and become better adapted to spread amongst humans, so it's important to be vigilant, to ensure good wild fowl and poultry surveillance and when human cases do occur, to isolate the patient to remove the risk of onward transmission.'
