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Report on H5N1 Avian Influenza Outbreak Shows United Kingdom’s Response Plan Needs Few Changes

In August 2007, the British Department on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published an analysis of its response to an outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus that infected 159,000 turkeys in Holton (Suffolk County) beginning on February 3, 2007. The report details ‘lessons learned’ and provides recommendations for responding to future outbreaks. Problem areas during the outbreak identified in the report include: poor communication at the local level, proper disposal of animal carcasses and other wastes, and concern over legislation that those outside the government agencies either misunderstood or found confusing. These consisted of misunderstandings over domestic legislation and international guidelines for containing avian influenza outbreaks including the governing of movement of animals and environmental protection laws. In order to address some of these problem areas, DEFRA suggests authorizing access to information for all local stakeholders during outbreaks, such as updates of current policies and the actions being taken to control the outbreak, as well as improving communication between those responsible for controlling the outbreak at the local, regional, and national levels. Furthermore, the confusion over legislation demonstrated to DEFRA the need for constant review and revision of policies related to such incidents. DEFRA also discussed the need for heightened awareness and understanding of proper response measures between veterinary managers and the poultry industry, which it deemed deficient during the outbreak.

DEFRA’s response to the outbreak demonstrated the effectiveness of its contingency plan, and its follow-up analysis provided excellent recommendations. In particular, DEFRA recognizes the need for a highly collaborative multi-sectorial approach to controlling future exotic animal disease outbreaks; however, it failed to analyze the quality of its collaboration with human health services during this outbreak. Including health and human services in contingency plans is especially important considering the high mutability of H5N1 and the lack of capacity to produce an appropriate vaccine when a new strain of influenza virus appears (1). Moreover, a high level of collaboration between these sectors is necessary to meet the challenges posed by a virus that causes illness with over 50% fatality rate in humans (1). Constant review and update by DEFRA and other agencies of policies concerning outbreaks must take place and these policies must include responses to scenarios of animal to human transmission and human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus. DEFRA acknowledges that its findings are not a prescriptive solution for every exotic animal disease outbreak because each situation will pose unique challenges. However, this report shows DEFRA’s willingness to revisit response plans, improve the plans for future outbreaks, and share its best practices with others worldwide.

For more information, please visit the following link to full text of the report: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/holton-lessonslearned030807.pdf

DEFRA’s Contingency Response Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/animaldisease-plan2007/framework.pdf

Written by:

Sabrina Hervey

M.P.A. International Management, May 2008

Monterey Institute of International Studies

Sarah Leppert

M.A. International Policy Studies, December 2007

Monterey Institute of International Studies

(1)World Health Organization. Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response. Avian Influenza. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html#present.

For previous analyses please see the archive.

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