Hope in fight against lethal bird flu as scientists discover some species developing immunity
Hopes of combatting a lethal strain of bird flu have received a small boost after scientists discovered some seabirds were developing immunity.
Amid the UK’s worst outbreak on record, last year at least 3.4 million birds died or were culled and shops ran short on eggs.
A small number of bird flu infections in humans have also been detected since the current outbreak began in 2021.
In what they are calling a “significant” step forward, UK scientists believe – for the first time – they have found cases of seabirds that have had been exposed to the current H5N1 strain and then recovered.
In welcome news for farmers, the study also found long distance transmission from one farm to another was extremely unlikely.
The findings by the FluMap group of eight organisations, led by the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA), are based on a “small sample size” of Northern gannets – a species particularly vulnerable to bird flu – and shag species.
Thousands of Gannets died at two key RSPB sites, Grassholm and Troup Head, with numbers falling to lows not seen since the 1960s.
Much fewer died this year – and the scientists discovered some birds that had been infected and survived. Infections can spread from wild to farmed birds, meaning tackling it in wild birds is important for protecting farms.
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Professor Ian Brown from APHA said: “The data from flu map shows, not surprisingly, perhaps, that some of [the living birds tested this year] were indeed exposed, got infected and recovered and were therefore immune.”
However there is still “lots of uncertainty” about the broader implications, he added.
Bird flu viruses can morph and change, meaning antibody levels will likely decline over time and so immunity may fade.
That means next year’s offspring are not guaranteed to be immune, so scientists aren’t expecting whole populations to benefit yet.
Prof Brown said the findings were “significant new data” but could not be described as a “major, major breakthrough”
“It gives us more insights to what’s happening with the virus and its impacts on biodiversity,” he added.
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Scientists hope the findings will provide a better understanding of how the virus changes, helping them to control the spread and protect the health of animals and humans in future.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was in talks with industry figures about possible vaccinations for farmed birds.
DEFRA and the government-sponsored UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have announced an extra £3.3m of funding for the group to find out more about immunity in wild birds.
Another group has also been given £3.2m to investigate the potential for human transmission.
According to DEFRA, 60% of new human diseases originate in animals.
Although current numbers of confirmed cases are lower than this time last year, Prof Middlemiss said there was still a “high risk” infections could spread, and urged farmers to maintain biosecurity measures.
An RSPB spokesperson said 2023 has seen the “third consecutive summer UK seabirds have been hit by this strain of bird flu, with tens of thousands of birds dead so far”.
They welcomed the news about signs of immunity, but said it “does not change the fact that we need urgent conservation action to build resilience in our vulnerable seabird populations, so they can better recover from the impacts of this devastating disease”.
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Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
Ellis Cox who was shot dead in June 2024. Pic: Merseyside Police
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
Mum Carolyn Cox (left) and aunt Julie O’Toole (right) are looking for answers
Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
DCI Steve McGrath does not believe Ellis was involved in criminality
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
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Mrs Cox also appealed for people to come forward with information.
“If you know anything, don’t let us get to [his] next birthday and still know nothing.
“We need to get justice for Ellis. And we need to get the people who took him from us off the streets.”
UK
Reward of £20,000 offered to identify parents of three siblings abandoned as babies over eight years
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the parents of three siblings found abandoned in London over eight years.
The Metropolitan Police said that despite more than 450 hours of CCTV being reviewed, the parents of the three children, known as Elsa, Roman and Harry, remain unidentified.
However, it is believed their mother has lived in an area of east London “over the past six years”.
Elsa was believed to be less than an hour old when she was found by a dog walker on 18 January last year, in East Ham, east London.
In the months that followed it was found that she had two siblings who were also abandoned in similar circumstances, in the same area of London, in 2017 and 2019.
On Saturday, police said the independent group Crimestoppers had offered a £20,000 reward for information passed to the charity, which will expire on 18 April.
Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, of the Met’s child abuse investigation team, said: “We have carried out extensive inquiries over the past year to try and locate Elsa’s parents.
Baby Roman. Pic: Met Police/PA
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“This has involved reviewing over 450 hours of CCTV and completing a full DNA structure of the mother.
“We have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the parents, especially the mother, and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.
“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community there may be (or) have been concerns for this mother’s welfare.
“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”
The baby was found at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in Newham. Pic: PA
Elsa was found wrapped in a towel in a reusable shopping bag, of which police have also released a new image, and was kept warm by the dog walker. She was uninjured.
Police said at the time that it was “highly likely” that she was born after a “concealed pregnancy”.
The Boots bag in which Baby Elsa was found abandoned by a dog walker in Newham on 18 January 2024. Pic: Met Police/PA
The BBC reported that at an initial court hearing, East London Family Court was told it took doctors three hours to record Elsa’s temperature because of the cold, and the Met Office said that temperatures dropped to as low as -4C on the night she was found.
Hospital staff named her Elsa in a reference to the character from the film Frozen.
The police investigation into the identity of the children’s parents continues, and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref Operation Wolcott.
People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at any time on 0800 555 111 or via Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
Ellis Cox who was shot dead in June 2024. Pic: Merseyside Police
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
Mum Carolyn Cox (left) and aunt Julie O’Toole (right) are looking for answers
Ellis’ mum described him as ‘kind” and “funny. Pic: Merseyside Police
Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
DCI Steve McGrath does not believe Ellis was involved in criminality
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
Read more from Sky News:
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Mrs Cox also appealed for people to come forward with information.
“If you know anything, don’t let us get to [his] next birthday and still know nothing.
“We need to get justice for Ellis. And we need to get the people who took him from us off the streets.”
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