The largest ever outbreak of bird flu continues to cause havoc across Scotland and the rest of the UK. And now the virus is spilling over into mammals, including otters and foxes.
Avian influenza - better known as bird flu - has mutated, spreading to other animals, with public health bosses warning the mutation could see a jump to humans.
Figures released by the BBC revealed that the virus has led to the death of 208 million birds worldwide, with at least 200 recorded cases in mammals. And now, as the virus spreads and mutates, there will be more targeted surveillance and testing of both animals and humans across the UK who have been exposed.
READ MORE: Glasgow park bird flu outbreak sees 22 swans die as council issues warning to public
Types of animals tested for bird flu
Avian flu is, of course, a disease primarily of birds, but experts across. the globe are not looking into the risk of the virus spilling into other species, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
There have been cases of the virus detected in a range of animals across the world, including grizzly bears in America and mink in Spain, as well as in dolphin and seals.
Where have positive cases of bird flu in mammals been detected?
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has tested 66 mammals throughout the UK so far, with cases identified in Fife.
Animals tested across the UK include seals, with nine otters and foxes testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
Cases have also been identified in Shetland and the Inner Hebrides as well as Durham, Cheshire and Cornwall in England and Powys in Wales.
It is believed that the infected animals had fed on dead or sick wild birds carrying the virus.
The animals found with the virus were infected with a mutated strain that could make it easier for mammals to become infected. However, there was no evidence of transmission of bird flu between mammals.
The APHA explained that there was "a very low likelihood of any widespread infection in GB mammals".
What risk does bird flu pose to humans?
Since the outbreak began in October 2021, there have been five confirmed cases of the bird flu H5N1 virus in humans across the UK.
There has been one death recorded across the world - in China - and just last month, a nine-year old girl in Ecuador was found to be infected.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been almost 870 cases of human infection with the avian influenza H5N1 virus reported across 21 countries in the last 20 years. A total of 457 cases resulted in death.
Currently, the virus is not able to spread from human to human, with the transmission risk from person to person low.
However, viruses such as bird flu are constantly evolving, with WHO continuing to stress the importance of global surveillance to detect and monitor the development of the disease.
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