Bird flu ‘has potential to become pandemic’, UKHSA director says

Bird flu in people is rare, although some viruses, like H5N1 or H7N9, have been associated with human disease (Alamy/PA) -

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has the “potential to become a pandemic”, according to a director at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said while the virus is “not new” and the risk to the public remains low, its features have changed in recent years.