UK Guidance for the Public: Minimize Contact with Wild Birds

 
CDC Guidance

#17,955

Today the UK government has published guidance for the public to avoid or minimize contact with wild birds. 

While its release may be linked - at least in part - to the recent rise in `Parrot Fever' cases being reported in Europe (see WHO DON Update & Risk Assessment On Psittacosis In Europe), many migratory birds are now heading north for the summer, and the risks of spreading avian flu to humans - while low - are not zero. 

There are suspicions that Chile's human H5N1 case from early 2023 was infected via shorebirds near where he lived, and just a few days ago we looked at a seroprevalence study from Borneo which found evidence that HPAI H5 may have spread to humans via migratory birds. 

While we've seen general advice to avoid contact with wild birds before (see CDC guidance), today's release from the UK is perhaps the most detailed to date.  It stresses avoiding contact, and if that isn't possible, the value of wearing of PPEs (gloves, eye protection & masks, etc.), and the importance of post-contact disinfection. 

First the UK guidance, after which I'll have a brief postscript.

Guidance
Avian influenza (bird flu) - advice for the public on staying safe by minimising contact with wild birds

Published 19 March 2024

Avian influenza of different types circulates in wild bird populations. It is not always possible to tell that birds are infected as they may not show obvious signs of illness. It will not be possible to tell whether birds found dead are infected without a laboratory test.

Avian influenza is a risk to human health because it can infect and cause severe disease in people, although this is uncommon.

Who this guidance is for

This guidance gives advice to the public on how to keep themselves safe from catching avian influenza from wild birds by minimising contact with them.

This advice is for members of the public. People working routinely with birds and non-human mammals should follow Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advice for keeping themselves safe from catching avian influenza. Some people may be at higher risk from influenza and may wish to consider this when taking precautions.

Wild birds

If possible, do not touch or handle wild birds or their droppings. This is because wild birds can carry diseases which can cause illness in people.

If you find dead wild birds, you can report finding them to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). When you report dead wild birds, they may be collected and tested for bird flu or other causes of death. This helps us understand how diseases are spreading in birds. Not all dead wild birds will be collected.

If you decide that you need to handle a wild bird, there are some steps which you can follow to reduce the risks:

• keep your distance as much as possible – aim to stay at least 2 metres away if you can
• keep the bird outside - do not bring it into your house or an enclosed space
• wear clothing that will stop you being injured by scratches or bites (trousers and long sleeves) and disposable gloves and eye protection (for example, goggles or glasses).
• wash clothing and eye protection after use
• dispose of gloves by putting them in a plastic bag, tying a knot in the bag and then placing in an outside bin
• if possible, wear a surgical face mask or a multi-layered cloth face covering (which should be washed after use)
• if you take the bird to a vet or animal welfare organisation or similar, phone ahead and follow their instructions about taking the bird to them
• if you take the bird in a vehicle, put it as far from you as possible in secure ventilated box, and keep the windows open while travelling
• dispose of any disposable items that have or may have been contaminated by the bird, by putting in a bag, sealing the bag and disposing in your outdoor bin.
• use disinfectant wipes to clean any surfaces that cannot be disposed of that have or may have been contaminated by the bird

Disposal of dead wild birds in household or municipal waste bins

If you choose to dispose of a dead wild bird with your household or municipal waste, you should: 

• pick it up wearing disposable gloves or a plastic bag over your hand
• put the bird in a plastic bag and tie it - make sure the bird does not touch the outside of the bag
• put the bag containing the bird in a second (preferably leak proof) plastic bag, along with the gloves or plastic bag you used to pick it up and tie it - take care not to touch the outside of the gloves with bare hands
• put the tied bag in your outside household or municipal waste bin
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water

Burying wild birds

If you choose to bury a dead wild bird, you should:

• not bury it near any watercourses or in a place where it could contaminate local water supplies
• wear disposable gloves or use a plastic bag if you need to pick up the bird
• dig a hole at least 60cm deep to stop animals digging it up
• do not bury it in a plastic bag
• if you use a plastic bag or gloves to pick the bird up, put the used gloves or bag inside another bag in your outside household or municipal waste bin - take care not to touch the outside of the gloves or inside of the bag which has been in contact with the dead bird with bare hands
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards

If you are told by a healthcare or animal professional that a bird you have been in contact with has confirmed or suspected avian influenza, contact your regional health protection team for further advice. This might happen if the bird is tested for avian influenza by Defra or a vet, or if the bird is from a high-risk zone where avian influenza is active.

This guidance was developed using APHA guidance and with advice from RSPCA.

While the risks to humans from infected birds remains quite low, that risk is arguably higher for dogs and cats which roam outside (see Netherlands: Utrecht University Study Of Stray & Domestic Cats For Evidence Of HPAI H5N1 Exposure).

People have contracted avian flu from pets in the past (see J Infect Dis: Serological Evidence Of H7N2 Infection Among Animal Shelter Workers, NYC 2016), and we've seen guidance from both the CDC (see Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals) and the UK's DEFRA on the importance of keeping pets safe from H5N1.

While it is still a long-shot that H5N1 will spark a pandemic, we have entered a `new normal'; one which demands we adjust and adapt to this constantly evolving threat, or risk suffering the consequences.