OmniVira

Pilot of asymptomatic swabbing of humans following exposures to confirmed avian influenza A(H5) in avian species in England, 2021/2022.

Fernando Capelastegui1 Julianna Smith1 Jharna Kumbang1 Clare Humphreys1 Simon Padfield1 Jonathan Turner1 Andrew Mumford1 Nick Richardson1 Isabel Oliver1 Gavin Dabrera1
Affiliations 1 institutions
  1. UK Health Security Agency London UK.
PMID37638093 DOI10.1111/irv.13187 Year2023 Journal Influenza and other respiratory viruses Influenza Other Respir Viruses Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

A programme of asymptomatic swabbing was piloted in 2021/2022 in England to further understand the risk of human infection with avian influenza in exposed individuals and to evaluate this surveillance approach as a public health measure. There were challenges in deploying this pilot that will need to be addressed for future seasons. However, there was one detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) in a human despite low uptake in eligible exposed persons. Future use of asymptomatic swabbing could help provide an evidence base to quantify asymptomatic infection, quickly identify signals of increased animal to human transmission and improve public health preparedness.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
A(H5N1) 3 asymptomatic testing 1 avian influenza 57 emerging disease 3 England 2 surveillance 60 Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype 300 Influenza in Birds 341 Influenza, Human 286 Animals 1948 Asymptomatic Infections 5 Birds 212 England 2 Humans 1440

Evidence records

2 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE7285 Viral Detection
Key finding

Avian influenza A(H5N1) viral material was detected in a human sample during asymptomatic swabbing surveillance conducted in England in 2021/2022.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
United Kingdom
Supporting text

A programme of asymptomatic swabbing was piloted in 2021/2022 in England to further understand the risk of human infection with avian influenza in exposed individuals. However, there was one detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) in a human despite low uptake in eligible exposed persons.

Method
swabbing surveillance | viral nucleic acid detection
Sample type
asymptomatic swab
Geographic raw
England
Country inferred
GBR
Transmission Evidence
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Spillover Event
1 records
OVE7286 Spillover Event
Key finding

A human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) was detected among individuals exposed to infected birds in England, suggesting an animal-to-human spillover event.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host birds Aves Natural host
Location
United Kingdom
Supporting text

Pilot of asymptomatic swabbing of humans following exposures to confirmed avian influenza A(H5) in avian species in England, 2021/2022. However, there was one detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) in a human despite low uptake in eligible exposed persons.

Method
asymptomatic swabbing | human exposure surveillance | virus detection
Study design
Pilot of asymptomatic human swabbing following exposure to confirmed avian influenza A(H5) infections in birds
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
England
Country inferred
GBR