Human Exposures to H5N6 Avian Influenza, England, 2018.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The European reassortant avian influenza A(H5N6) virus poses an unknown risk to humans.
• Avian influenza outbreaks in wild bird populations necessitate an understanding of potential zoonotic transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the human health risk following exposure to European reassortant avian influenza A(H5N6) from wild birds in England.
• To evaluate outcomes in individuals exposed to H5N6-infected wild birds.

Main Methods:

• Utilized routine public health surveillance data.
• Analyzed data from 19 incidents of confirmed H5N6 in wild birds in England (Q1 2018).
• Monitored outcomes for 69 individuals exposed to infected birds, including diagnostic testing for symptomatic cases.

Main Results:

• Sixty-nine individuals were exposed to H5N6-infected wild birds across 19 incidents.
• Five exposed individuals developed respiratory symptoms.
• No H5N6 infections were detected in symptomatic individuals who underwent testing.

Conclusions:

• The risk of human infection from the European reassortant avian influenza A(H5N6) strain appears low based on this surveillance data.
• Public health follow-up of exposed individuals did not reveal evidence of significant zoonotic transmission in this context.