Bird flu: UK could mass vaccinate chickens to prevent avian influenza spreading between humans

The i was this week the first national newspaper to be given access to the high-secure APHA facility in Surrey, which is at the heart of the UK’s battle against bird flu. During our visit to its labs and fieldwork, an otter which had died from suspected bird flu was brought in for a post mortem – underlining the fast-paced nature of the situation. Prof Brown and his team are working with the World Health Organisation and other global governments and organisations to try to limit the spread. Prof Brown said European countries would likely decide whether to vaccinate by the end of this month based on the best science available. He added: “It spread into wild bird populations last summer, into these seabird populations that never had experienced this disease before.