UK: 2 more poultry workers test positive for avian flu

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) reported that these 2 workers had contact with infected birds at two different locations in England. This follows the discovery of 2 previous cases in workers in May. These poultry workers have since tested negative. The UKHSA said the cases were not related.

The UKHSA testing program includes farm personnel, personnel involved in culling operations, veterinarians and other safety and health personnel.

“The first new finding is difficult to interpret due to lack of information on timing of sampling and may be indicative of an infection or contamination of the respiratory tract,” the UKHAS said in a statement, adding: “The second new finding is likely indicative of infection. Precautionary contact tracing has been undertaken.”

About 50 more people working at the two affected sites have been tested for bird flu , all of which have come back negative, the UKHSA confirmed.

No evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found and the risk to human health remains unchanged, while the risk to the population remains very low.