Disease

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - Update

On 18 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Thailand notified WHO of the country’s first confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Between 8 and 10 July 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of 2 additional deaths but no new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

On 6 July 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of the Philippines notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Bird Flu in UK

Tens of thousands of chickens are being slaughtered on a poultry farm after a suspected bird flu outbreak. A control zone has also been set up 10km around a Lancashire farm to prevent any risk of the disease spreading but up to 170,000 laying hens are expected to be humanely culled as a precautionary measure.

Scientists have yet to discover what strain of flu is involved. Some strains of avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 form, are known to have jumped the species barrier and resulted in more than 300 human deaths worldwide.

But advice from Public Health England is that the risk to public health is "very low", while the Food Standards Agency says there are no food safety threats for consumers.