A British person has been infected with bird flu, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
The agency said a case had been identified in a person in the South West of England.
The risk to the wider public from avian flu continues to be very low, the UKHSA said.
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However, it warned that people should not touch sick or dead birds.
In a statement, the UKHSA said: “Bird to human transmission of avian flu is very rare and has only occurred a small number of times in the UK previously.
“The person acquired the infection from very close, regular contact with a large number of infected birds, which they kept in and around their home over a prolonged period of time.
“All contacts of the individual, including those who visited the premises, have been traced and there is no evidence of onward spread of the infection to anyone else. The individual is currently well and self-isolating.”
The UK is currently seeing its “largest ever” bird flu outbreak among the avian population.
Around half a million birds have been culled so far, according to UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, who said there are 40 infected premises in the UK – including 33 in England.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was declared across the UK on November 3 before being extended on November 29 with the added requirement all captive birds have to be kept indoors, amid concerns that wild birds migrating from mainland Europe during the winter are carrying the disease.
Speaking in the House of Commons in December, environment secretary George Eustice said: “Each year the UK faces a seasonal risk in incursion of avian influenza associated with migratory wild birds.
“While we have that each year, I have to say this year we are now seeing the largest-ever outbreak in the UK of avian influenza."
The protection zone means that in addition to keeping birds and poultry housed, keepers must continue to take precautions such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment and vehicles and limiting access to non-essential workers and visitors.
