DfT dangerous goods guidance note 12: avian influenza virus
Published 16 March 2016
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This guidance note is intended for health/veterinary professionals. It’s been prepared to assist in the classification of material known or suspected to contain avian influenza virus, following the category assignment rationale for infectious substances (Class 6.2) laid out in chapter 2.2 of ADR and other modal regulatory texts.
It should be read in the context of the full regulatory provisions on classification, and also the guidance document on the transport of infectious substances.
Avian influenza, or ‘bird flu, is a communicable disease caused by viruses that normally infect only birds but on rare occasions have infected humans. While there are several subtypes, only influenza A viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are known to cause the ‘highly pathogenic’ form (causing high mortality in poultry) of the disease, most notably the H5N1 subtype.
However, not all viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic and not all will cause severe disease in poultry or transfer to humans. The main route of human infection by avian influenza is presently considered to be by direct contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with faeces. Human-to-human spread of the disease is very rare if it occurs at all.
Avian influenza virus can be considered as a new or emerging pathogen which is capable of causing life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. However, classification is also based on the form in which a specimen is to be offered for transport. The following guidance is offered:
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category A - cultures, faeces, carcasses or other products (for example, blood) derived from animals known or suspected to have been infected with the A(H5N1) avian influenza virus
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category B - human blood and other human samples known or suspected to contain the A(H5N1) subtype, or cultures, faeces, carcasses, blood or other samples known or suspected to contain any other subtype of avian influenza virus 4
Further information on avian influenza is available from the World Health Organization.