Home Health Social distancing is back (but not how you might think!): Health bosses urge Brits to stay 2m away from ALL wild birds, including pigeons and seagulls, amid avian flu pandemic fears

Social distancing is back (but not how you might think!): Health bosses urge Brits to stay 2m away from ALL wild birds, including pigeons and seagulls, amid avian flu pandemic fears

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More than 700 confirmed cases of H5N1 have been detected among wild birds in England since September 2022, according to the UKHSA. Pictured above is an outbreak of bird flu last February in Queens Park, Heywood and Rochdale.

Britons should stay at least 2 meters away from wild birds, according to new Government advice drawn up to thwart the risk of another pandemic.

In its first ever public guidance aimed at helping Britons ‘stay safe’, officials from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have said bird flu poses a ‘risk to human health’.

Bosses have called on people to minimize their contact with all wild birds, including pigeons and seagulls.

According to the guidelines, created with the RSPCA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Britons are asked not to “touch or handle wild birds or their droppings”.

At all times, people should also aim to keep “at least two meters apart” “if you can”.

More than 700 confirmed cases of H5N1 have been detected among wild birds in England since September 2022, according to the UKHSA. Pictured above is an outbreak of bird flu last February in Queens Park, Heywood and Rochdale.

More than 700 confirmed cases of H5N1 have been detected among wild birds in England since September 2022, according to the UKHSA. Pictured above is an outbreak of bird flu last February in Queens Park, Heywood and Rochdale.

1710850770 354 Social distancing is back but not how you might think

1710850770 354 Social distancing is back but not how you might think

British scientists tasked with developing “early human transmission scenarios” for bird flu have warned that 5 percent of infected people could die if the virus spreads to humans (shown in scenario three). In another scenario, scientists assumed that 1% of infected people would be hospitalized and 0.25% would die – a figure similar to that of Covid in fall 2021 (scenario 1). The other saw a mortality rate of 2.5 percent (scenario two)

The UKHSA’s instructions come amid growing fears that bird flu could spark another human pandemic.

There is no evidence that the virus, which is believed to have killed millions of birds in Britain and infected farmers, is currently capable of spreading easily between people.

But experts have long feared that an outbreak of H5N1, which kills nearly 50 percent of those infected, is imminent.

This comes just a month after Beijing revealed the world’s first-ever case of a new bird flu. A farmer in her sixties died after a two-week battle with the H10N5 strain, a novel disease.

And last year, a Chinese woman became the first person to die from the H3N8 strain.

H5N1, which experts have identified as having pandemic potential in humans, has already fueled the world’s largest ever outbreak of bird flu.

Over the past two years, it has affected more than 200 million domestic birds worldwide, in addition to countless wild birds, and has spread to mammals like mink, foxes, raccoons and l ‘bear.

Experts fear that increasing spread between species could allow the virus to pick up mutations that would allow it to spread among humans.

UKHSA advice to stay at least 2 meters away from wild birds has been listed as a step for people who “need to handle” animals.

He also called on Britons to keep birds outside, saying: “Do not bring them into your house or an enclosed space. »

Other tips include wearing clothing that prevents scratch or bite injuries, such as pants or long sleeves, and using masks, disposable gloves and eye protection.

Alan Gosling (pictured), a retired engineer from Devon, caught the virus after his ducks, some of which lived inside his house, became infected. No one else caught the virus

Alan Gosling (pictured), a retired engineer from Devon, caught the virus after his ducks, some of which lived inside his house, became infected. No one else caught the virus

Alan Gosling (pictured), a retired engineer from Devon, caught the virus after his ducks, some of which lived inside his house, became infected. No one else caught the virus

Humans are unlikely to contract bird flu from eating poultry and game birds because they are sensitive to heat and cooking poultry properly will kill the virus.

The usual symptoms in humans are high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, and a general feeling of being unwell.

And just like the common flu, it can quickly progress to serious respiratory illness and pneumonia.

Human infections occur when the virus enters the eyes, nose, mouth or is inhaled.

Under the new guidelines, officials have advised Britons to contact their regional health protection team if they have been in contact with confirmed or suspected cases of bird flu.

This can be carried out by a health or animal care professional after a bird has been tested for the virus by a vet or DEFRA.

They warned, however, that the risk to people remains very low and there is currently no evidence that it can spread more easily from person to person or between people.

TThere have only been five cases of Britons infected since the current outbreak began.

Retired engineer Alan Gosling – the first – caught the virus in early 2022 after his ducks, some of which lived at his house in Devon, became infected.

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What do the authorities advise the British to counter the risk of bird flu?

Under new UKHSA guidelines, officials urged Britons “where possible”, not to “touch or handle wild birds or their droppings”.

If you “must handle” animals, you should instead:

  • Keep your distance as much as possible – try to stay at least 2 meters apart if you can
  • Keep the bird outside – don’t bring it into your house or enclosed space
  • Wear clothing that will prevent you from being injured by scratches or bites (long pants and sleeves), as well as disposable gloves and protective eyewear (e.g., goggles or goggles).
  • Wash clothing and protective eyewear after use
  • Dispose of the gloves by putting them in a plastic bag, tying a knot in the bag and then placing them in an outdoor bin.
  • If possible, wear a surgical mask or multi-layered cloth face covering (which should be washed after use)
  • If you are taking the bird to a veterinarian, animal welfare organization, or similar, call ahead and follow their instructions for taking the bird to them.
  • If you are taking the bird in a vehicle, place it as far away from you as possible in a secure, ventilated box and keep the windows open during travel.
  • Dispose of any disposable items that have or may have been contaminated by the bird by putting them in a bag, sealing the bag, and throwing them into your outdoor bin.
  • Use disinfectant wipes to clean any non-disposable surfaces that have or may have been contaminated by the bird.

If you throw away a dead wild bird with your household or municipal waste, you must:

  • Pick it up while wearing disposable gloves or a plastic bag on your hand
  • Put the bird in a plastic bag and tie it up – make sure the bird doesn’t touch the outside of the bag.
  • Place the bag containing the bird in a second plastic bag (preferably waterproof), along with the gloves or plastic bag you used to pick it up and tie it up – be careful not to touch the outside of the gloves to bare hands.
  • Place the tied bag in your household or municipal outdoor trash can.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water

If you bury a dead wild bird, you must:

  • Do not bury it near a watercourse or where it could contaminate local water supplies.
  • Wear disposable gloves or use a plastic bag if you must pick up the bird
  • Dig a hole at least 60 cm deep to prevent animals from digging it
  • Don’t bury it in a plastic bag
  • If you use a plastic bag or gloves to pick up the bird, put the used gloves or bag in another bag in your outdoor or municipal trash bin – be careful not to touch the outside of the gloves or the inside of the bag who was in contact with the dead bird with bare hands
  • Then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water

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