UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

British health authorities said on Monday they had detected a case of the H5N1 bird flu in a person in central England but added that the risk to the wider public remained "very low".

The person acquired the infection on a farm, where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency said in a statement, Reuters reported.

It said the individual was currently well and that authorities were tracing all known contacts of the person to offer antiviral treatment.

"We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur," UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser Susan Hopkins said.

Bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza are rare in Britain although it has occurred a small number of times.

British authorities have detected cases of bird flu in poultry farms in recent months and have taken steps to cull all infected animals.

 



Zelenskiy Ready to Swap Kyiv-Held Land in Russia’s Kursk Region for Ukrainian Territories

A view shows a building, damaged during a recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in controlled by Ukrainian army the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia August 16, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a building, damaged during a recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in controlled by Ukrainian army the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia August 16, 2024. (Reuters)
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Zelenskiy Ready to Swap Kyiv-Held Land in Russia’s Kursk Region for Ukrainian Territories

A view shows a building, damaged during a recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in controlled by Ukrainian army the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia August 16, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a building, damaged during a recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in controlled by Ukrainian army the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia August 16, 2024. (Reuters)

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would offer to swap land Ukrainian troops control in Russia's Kursk region in exchange for a return of Ukrainian territories Russia currently occupies if negotiations took place.

"We will swap one territory for another," Zelenskiy said in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper published on Tuesday.

Zelenskiy did not specify the Ukrainian territories he would ask for. "I don't know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority," he added.

Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory in the country's east and south as the full-scale invasion it launched on February 24 approaches its third anniversary.

Ukraine staged a surprise offensive into the Kursk region of western Russia last August and still holds part of the initially captured territory, although its size has dwindled in the course of Russian counter-attacks.

Kyiv officials say the Kursk operation was meant to protect border regions and that captured land could be used as a bargaining chip in any peace negotiations, whose prospects have risen since Donald Trump returned as US president.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly stressed that any plan to end the war in Ukraine should provide for strong security guarantees from allies to ensure no future Russian aggression is possible.

Trump said on Friday he would probably meet Zelenskiy this week to discuss ending the war. He indicated on Sunday that he had been in contact with Putin, without specifying when. The Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied those contacts.