Avian flu / bird flu

The Health Protection Agency states:

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease of birds caused by influenza viruses closely related to human influenza viruses. It is an important disease economically for poultry farmers because of losses in poultry flocks.

Transmission to humans in close contact with poultry or other birds occurs rarely and only with some strains of avian influenza. The potential for transformation of avian influenza into a form that both causes severe disease in humans and spreads easily from person to person is a great concern for world health.

More information

For more information, go to the Health Protection Agency website  (external link), the DEFRA website  (External Link), the Department of Health website  (external link) or our Health advice page. 

Alteratively, if you have any food concerns go to the News section of our Food Safety homepage.