To date, there have been no cases of people with avian flu (bird flu) in the UK. However, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has put plans in place to manage any suspected cases that may arise.
You can visit the HPA’s website for frequently asked questions about bird flu.
Initial assessment
An initial assessment will be made over the phone, at a GP surgery, at home or in a side room at a hospital.
Bird flu will be diagnosed based on your symptoms and the likelihood that you have been exposed to an infected bird. The doctor will ask you whether you have:
- recently travelled to an area affected by avian flu and if you have been close (within one metre) to live or dead domestic fowl or wild birds, including those at bird markets
- had close contact (touching or speaking distance) with anyone who has a severe respiratory illness
- had contact with anyone who died unexpectedly and who was from an area that had an outbreak
Tests
If bird flu is suspected, the following tests will be carried out to establish whether you have the infection:
- chest X-ray
- nose and throat swab
- blood tests
- gram stain (a process that detects different bacteria)
- liver function tests
If the laboratory tests and chest X-ray results are normal, it is unlikely that you have bird flu.
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Diagnosing avian flu
