Avian flu identified in United Kingdom

In written statement, Public Health England said that avian influenza of the H5N8 strain had been confirmed at a premises near Frodsham in Cheshire on Monday

“Further testing is underway to determine if it is a highly pathogenic strain and whether it is related to the virus currently circulating in Europe,” the agency noted.

Public Health England (PHE) advised that the risk to public health from the virus is very low.

According to the Food Standards Agency, avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

H5N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus).

Although H5N8 is considered one of the less pathogenic subtypes for humans, it is beginning to become more pathogenic.

H5N8 has previously been used in place of the highly pathogenic H1N1 in studies. (ILKHA)