Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken in response to the pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 outbreak in England and Wales.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the lead government department for the response to avian influenza incidents in the United Kingdom. Public Health England (PHE) supports Defra by advising on the potential impacts on human health and coordinating actions to mitigate any impact on human health.

PHE has introduced a number of measures, in relation to avian influenza, which are applicable to the current Avian Influenza A (H5N8) incidents in the UK. This includes: issuing public health guidance for health protection teams and health professionals in supporting the response to poultry outbreaks and wild bird incidents; maintaining laboratory capability to test for suspected avian influenza infections in humans, through the PHE laboratory network and reference laboratory; developing and publishing a risk assessment of the public health implications of avian influenza incidents and outbreaks; and monitoring international trends through epidemic intelligence.

In addition, in response to the poultry outbreaks and wild bird incidents, PHE has worked to identify persons directly exposed in these incidents and provide them with health advice, undertake health surveillance and, where appropriate, ensure they have access to post-exposure prophylaxis with Neuraminidase Inhibitors (otherwise known as antivirals). PHE has also undertaken a risk assessment in conjunction with Defra, and worked to provide information and advice on the public health and human aspects of this incident.