UK officials say the risk to people from avian flu is low but they should not touch sick birds. -EPA
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says there has been a confirmed human case of avian flu in southwest England, adding that the person had been in close contact with infected birds and there was no evidence of onward transmission.
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"The person acquired the infection from very close, regular contact with a large number of infected birds, which they kept in and around their home over a prolonged period of time," the UKHSA said.
"All contacts of the individual, including those who visited the premises, have been traced and there is no evidence of onward spread of the infection to anyone else," it added.
"The individual is currently well and self-isolating."
The UKHSA said the risk to the wider public from avian flu continues to be very low but said people should not touch sick or dead birds.
"Bird to human transmission of avian flu is very rare and has only occurred a small number of times in the UK previously," it said.
