Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department has issued on (a) PPE, (b) testing and (c) post-exposure prophylaxis for workers exposed to animals infected with avian influenza; and whether she plans to provide financial support for workers required to self-isolate following exposure.

The latest guidance for those exposed to birds or other animals with influenza A(H5) was published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 28 August 2025. It includes consideration of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and post-exposure prophylaxis, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-managing-human-exposures-to-incidents-in-birds-or-animals/guidance-for-the-management-of-people-exposed-to-birds-or-other-animals-infected-with-influenza-ah5

The UKHSA’s guidance refers to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance document about avoiding the risk of infection when working with poultry that is suspected of having H5 or H7 notifiable avian influenza. This recommends that PPE should be worn at all times when working in a potentially infected environment but does not require self-isolation if an individual is exposed to animals infected with influenza A(H5). The HSE guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/assets/docs/aisuspected.pdf

Information on benefits and financial support if someone is temporarily unable to work because they’re ill or self-isolating is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/unable-to-work