What you should know about bird flu in the UK – and its impact on humans
The UK has been declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) – and bird “gatherings” have been banned in England and Wales in response to rising cases of bird flu.
Strains of the virus have been reported in poultry and wild birds across the country – and one person working on a farm in the West Midlands.
Although there has only been one human case, the government has ordered five million doses of a bird flu vaccine to prevent further spread between humans.
Human-to-human transmission has not happened in the UK or Europe since bird flu first emerged in 1997, but experts warn each infection increases the risk of the virus adapting to human hosts – and causing a pandemic. Here is what you need to know.
What is avian flu – and how does it spread?
Avian flu (more commonly known as bird flu) is an influenza virus most common in wild birds and poultry. It can spread to mammals – and very rarely to humans.
It is spread through contact with infected birds, or other species, including through touching their droppings and bedding.
Humans can also catch the virus by killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), people who work with birds are most likely to contract it by breathing in dust and mist generated by infected birds – or touching infected equipment or machinery.
Symptoms in birds include sudden death, a swollen head, and closed or runny eyes. Mortality rates in chickens and other poultry are close to 100%.
Ducks, geese, and swans do not always show symptoms, which means they can spread the virus undetected. Scientists at the University of Glasgow recently found that horses were also asymptomatic for bird flu, sparking concerns the scale of the global outbreak could be higher than previously thought.
In humans, symptoms develop between three and five days after exposure and include:
- A high temperature;
- Headache and muscle aches;
- Coughing and shortness of breath;
- Diarrhoea and vomiting;
- Conjunctivitis;
- Chest pain;
- Bleeding from nose and gums.
It is different from seasonal influenza which infects humans each winter. This year the most common strains are A(H1N1) and A(H3N2).
Like seasonal influenza however, in humans it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory problems, and sometimes death – particularly in vulnerable people.
How widespread is the UK outbreak – and beyond?
The current outbreak stretches back to 2020 when the virus spread widely across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Antarctica.
By 2021 and 2022 sea birds along the UK coastline were dying – and eventually the virus spread to non-wild birds – including poultry.
The current poultry outbreak began with the (HPAI) H5N5 strain being identified in England on 5 November last year – and the (HPAI) H5N1 strain 12 days later. There has now been one case of each confirmed in Scotland – and just over 30 of the latter in England.
Most cases are in the east of England – from Essex and Suffolk to Yorkshire. The West Midlands, Merseyside, parts of Cornwall, Rye in Sussex, and Flintshire in Wales have also been impacted.
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There has only been one human case in the UK. The patient is “currently well” and being treated at a high-consequence infectious disease unit to prevent further transmission, the government says. Their closest contacts have been given antiviral drugs.
Beyond the UK, a slightly different strain has spread to about 156 million birds in the US as well as jumping to dairy cows – closing bird and cattle markets in certain states.
Almost 70 human cases have been confirmed there, including one fatal one in Louisiana in January – in a patient over the age of 65. Another fatal case has been reported in Mexico, and a teenage girl in Canada became seriously ill from the virus last year but was discharged last month.
Human-to-human transmission is confined to a small number of cases in Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
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Bird flu could be spreading undetected
How likely is further human spread in the UK?
Although both strains are “highly pathogenic” – this only refers to the risk to birds – not humans.
And according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the risk to the general public is “very low”.
“For most people, it’s not a direct threat at the moment,” Professor Ed Hutchinson, professor of molecular and cellular virology at the University of Glasgow, told Sky News.
“Flu viruses can adapt to new host species – they do it far more than any other virus – but it’s still very hard for them to do,” he said. “As a result, new flu strains only jump into humans every few decades.”
This is because to infect a human and create a viral load large enough to spread to other humans, the virus needs to adapt in three ways.
First, it must attach itself to the sugar molecules on the surface of our cells, before it can infect them by interacting with molecules inside – and both these types of molecules are structured differently in humans and birds.
Finally, it needs to be able to fight off the immune system – and our immune systems operate differently to the ones birds have.
“So far it hasn’t been able to adapt enough to jump from human to human, so that’s good news,” Prof Hutchinson said.
“For the time being we’re only at the first step of what progression to a human adapted virus looks like.”
But, he stressed: “The virus is already doing a lot of the things that would count as early warning signs for a possible future pandemic – and every infection of a human is another opportunity for it to adapt.
“So it’s rightly being viewed with a lot of concern. But that does not mean it’s necessarily capable of causing a pandemic, and even if there is still time to intervene to reduce the risk of it doing so.”
How can we stop it spreading?
Birds are not vaccinated for bird flu in the UK and are scarcely given antiviral medication to prevent drug resistance.
The restrictions currently in place for bird owners largely work by segregating commercial, and domestic birds from wild flocks – as the virus is harder to monitor in wild populations.
Poultry farmers with cases are forced to cull most of their other livestock within a certain radius, which is devastating for livelihoods – and pushes up the price of eggs and other poultry products.
If you see a dead bird with any of the key symptoms – you should report it to the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) by phone or online. The British Trust for Ornithology (BNO) also has an online tracker people can use that monitors the virus’s spread in near-real time.
If possible, preventing pets from scavenging dead birds can help stop the spread – particularly waterfowl or seabirds as they are the main carriers.
Eating eggs or cooked poultry does not risk any spread as neither of them contain any of the living organisms flu viruses need to survive.
In the US where cows have become infected, the virus will only survive in milk that hasn’t been pasteurised – as heat kills it instantly.
What restrictions are in place?
All four UK nations are currently designated Avian Influenza Prevention Zones.
From pet birds to a commercial flock, owners are required to keep them away from wild birds, free from rodents or pests, and to disinfect their pens, clothing, and anything else that comes into contact with their birds, bedding, or faeces.
Movement of birds and human contact should be minimised – and all activity monitored, the guidance adds.
People who own more than 50 birds must have government-mandated disinfectant foot dip at all entry and exit points.
Members of the public are banned from feeding wild game birds within 500m of any premises with more than 500 poultry or captive birds (kept as pets or in zoos).
In the East of England and Shropshire, stricter restrictions require all birds to be kept inside.
Any cases of highly pathogenic bird flu trigger a 3km (1.9-mile) protection zone and 10km (6.2-mile) surveillance zone around them.
As of midday on 10 February in England and Wales, bird “gatherings” of ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl are banned.
These include bringing birds together for fairs, markets, sales, exhibitions – or transporting a group from different premises together.
An MP has told Sky News she was attacked online by the Tate brothers after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons about violence against women.
The controversial duo, Andrew and Tristan Tate, are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK – all of which they deny.
But they are still very active online, and according to Sorcha Eastwood, the MP for Lagan Valley, are targeting her.
In a document seen by Sky News, Tristan Tate has highlighted one of the MP’s tweets and writes in private correspondence: “MP, nice target, can we sue her?”
Sorcha Eastwood says at first she thought the replies were from parody accounts and not the Tate brothers.
Her original tweet was about Elon Musk, not the Tate brothers. The MP said Musk’s tweets should be looked at through a counter-extremism lens.
“I was really concerned, I was concerned because to me that is a direct attack for want of a better phrase on me serving my constituents.
“I couldn’t believe that they decided to pick this random Northern Irish MP. The fact that it wasn’t even about them. This is something I didn’t go looking for.
“I think from my perspective, it’s a very, very sinister attempt to shut down important voices in public life, political discourse.”
It was only when she started noticing an uptick in abuse from other accounts she realised she had encountered some of the brothers’ followers.
“I had rape threats. I had death threats. I had people saying I should be hung from a lamppost. I had people saying I should be chopped into liver. I also had people then who were like we’ll waste 15 minutes raping Sorcha Eastwood.”
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against Sorcha Eastwood
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against her.
They said: “Ms Eastwood has a distorted view regarding social media if she believes one is required to ‘invite or ask’ people to interact.
“Tristan Tate is entitled to his view in relation to her tweet regarding Elon Musk.”
The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have both been charged with human trafficking, face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering in Romania.
There is also a European arrest warrant for them as they are facing separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK. They deny all charges.
Ms Eastwood now worries for others who don’t have a platform like her and who may not feel like they can speak out.
“If this is what has happened to me I have absolutely no doubt that this has happened to others where they have been attempted to be silenced.”
Keir Starmer has previously commented on the Tate brothers’ case in the Commons saying it is “a live issue”, but adding that “the principle is absolutely clear” in relation to whether the brothers should face justice.
Sorcha Eastwood says she wants to see the government do much more to protect against abuse online.
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Tate brothers deny wrongdoing
“I think ultimately the government has taken the wrong course on this. They need to step up.
“This should be an issue of national security as far as the radicalisation of young people online. It should be an issue in terms of the levels of misinformation, disinformation and the lack of trust that is had in our politics right across the UK and Europe.
“I want the government to help me, help every other person to crack down on this and get serious about it. And the only way they’ll be able to do that, is by hitting these tech companies in the only language which they understand, which is money and via robust legislation.”
A government spokesperson said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade.
“Tackling illegal abuse both online and offline is central to supporting victims and preventing harm in our communities and we will not hesitate to strengthen laws to deliver this mission.
“Last month, parts of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence.
“Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful, misogynistic, and violent content.”
UK
‘It’s just nasty’: Birmingham residents ‘overwhelmed’ by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on
In parts of Birmingham, the stench is overwhelming – enough to make you heave.
At a block of flats in Highgate, in Birmingham city centre, we find a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.
Mickel comes out to speak to us, while all around bin liners lie open, with the contents for all to see, including used nappies and rotting food.
Mickel says they’ve had ‘foxes and rats, literally the size of cats’
Outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish
We both find it hard to keep talking amid the awful smell.
“We’ve had foxes and rats, literally the size of cats, flies, it’s just nasty, something needs to be done,” he says.
Chris says the situation is ‘overwhelming’ as she’s ‘terrified of rats’
Around the corner, I meet Chris, in her dressing gown, popping the bins into her bin store beneath her flat before work.
She unlocks it, and although it isn’t bursting out on to the street yet, it is getting full.
She says the situation is “overwhelming” as she’s “terrified of rats”. But, even so, she has sympathy for the striking bin workers.
“It’s not an easy job; they must have a heart of gold to do that job,” she says.
“Pay them whatever they need, they deserve it.”
Striking bin workers at Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre
There’s an awful smell coming from a mountain of bin liners outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate
At Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre, Brigette has pulled up alongside picketing workers. The back seat of her car is full of rubbish.
She apologises for the terrible waft, mixed with air freshener.
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“It’s very pungent, isn’t it? Not nice,” she admits.
“It’s unfortunate, I have some sympathies for all the parties, but, equally, we have a duty of care to stay clean and tidy.”
She says she has her rubbish and that of her elderly aunt and plans to make weekly trips to the tip until a resolution in this pay dispute between the council and the Unite union is found.
UK
‘US is our closest ally’, Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs – but ‘nothing off the table’
The US is “our closest ally” but “nothing is off the table” in response to Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from the UK, the business secretary has said.
In a statement following the US president’s nearly hour-long address to the world, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers.
“That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”
Follow the latest following Trump’s tariffs announcement
Mr Reynolds reiterated the statements from the prime minister and his cabinet over the past few days, saying the US is “our closest ally”, and the government’s approach is to “remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says “nothing is off the table” following the tariffs announcement. Pic: PA
But he continued: “We have a range of tools at our disposal, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with UK businesses, including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.
“Nobody wants a trade war, and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table, and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”
‘Get back round the negotiating table’, say Tories
The Conservative Party’s shadow business and trade secretary described the US president’s announcement as “disappointing news which will worry working families across the country”.
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Sky’s Ed Conway examines how economies across the world are impacted by tariffs
Andrew Griffith hit out at the government for having “failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner”.
“The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago with its inadequate headroom is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts,” he continued. “Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.”
He called on ministers to “swallow their pride” and “get back round the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike”.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reacted furiously to Mr Trump’s announcement of a “destructive trade war”, and called on the government to stand up against “Trump’s attempts to divide and rule”.
“The prime minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.”
Speaking on Wednesday evening at a White House event entitled ‘Make America Wealthy Again’, the US president unleashed sweeping tariffs across the globe.
Mr Trump held up a chart detailing the worst offenders – which also showed the new tariffs the US would be imposing.
The UK’s rate of 10% was perhaps a shot across the bow over the 20% VAT rate, though the president’s suggested a 10% tariff imbalance between the two nations. Nonetheless, tariffs of 10% could directly reduce UK GDP by between 0.01% and 0.06%, according to Capital Economics.
A 25% duty on all car imports from around the world is also being imposed from midnight in the US – 5am on Thursday, UK time.
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The UK government had been hoping to negotiate an economic deal with the US in a bid to avoid the tariffs, but to no avail. The government says negotiations will continue.
The Confederation of British Industry said “negotiating stronger trading relationships with all like-minded partners will be foundational to any success”.
The business secretary is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, and we are also expecting to hear from the prime minister.
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