Research and analysis

Influenza A (H5): incubation and infectious period in non-human mammals

This rapid evidence summary identified and summarised evidence relating to the infectious and incubation period of influenza A (H5) in non-human mammals.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 4 December 2024
• Last updated: 3 December 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Incubation and infectious period of influenza A (H5) in non-human mammals: a rapid evidence summary

Ref: December 2024 GOV-17588

PDF, 417 KB, 31 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This rapid evidence summary identified and summarised evidence relating to the timeframe of transmitting an infection between 2 non-human mammals (the infectious period). It also identified and summarised time between contracting an infection and symptom onset (incubation period) of influenza A (H5) in non-human mammals (search up to 26 April 2024).

Eight studies were included, 7 experimental studies and 1 observational study.

Published 4 December 2024

Last updated 3 December 2025 + show all updates

1. 3 December 2025

   Updated the title to be more specific, and made a few minor updates to the wording of the details (for example, 'review' changes to 'summary').

2. 4 December 2024

   First published.