Bird flu virus spreading in UK could be worst yet, expert warns farmers

A former government expert in avian virology has warned that the current bird flu virus spreading across UK farms may be the most infectious yet, urging farmers to prepare for the worst. This warning comes as a mandatory housing order for poultry was implemented in England, requiring birds to be kept indoors to curb high infection rates. Professor Ian Brown of the Pirbright Institute noted that this season has already seen numerous outbreaks on UK farms, and that the current H5N1 strain is as highly pathogenic as any previously seen. He referenced a severe epidemic between 2021 and 2023 with over 350 UK outbreaks, indicating the current early signals are concerning. Free-range egg producer Sarah Godwin described the mandatory housing of her 32,000 hens as a "terrible" but "necessary evil," emphasizing the disastrous consequences of an outbreak. Despite stringent biosecurity measures, she remains "very nervous" about the risk of contamination, as even small amounts of infected material can lead to the culling of an entire flock. While the UK Health Security Agency states the risk to human health is very low and properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe, Professor Brown stressed ... download the app to read more