Two workers in the chicken farm industry in England have tested positive for bird flu, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported on Tuesday. The individuals were working on a farm where a bird flu outbreak had been detected.
“The two people returning positive tests are known to have recently worked on an infected poultry farm in England. Neither has experienced any symptoms of avian influenza, and both have since tested negative,” the UKHSA said in a statement.
Birds that contract avian influenza, or bird flu, can exhibit various symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, reduced appetite, and swelling and discoloration of their head, neck, and eyes. In extreme cases, it can result in sudden death.
When transmitted to humans, bird flu can cause severe respiratory complications, which in certain instances, can be fatal.
Over the previous year, the world has witnessed a widespread outbreak of bird flu, leading to the death of over 100 million birds. This count includes not only infected birds but also healthy ones that were preventively killed at farms where the virus was identified.
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