The British government on Monday said that a bird flu or avian influenza (H5N1) case had been detected in a sheep in England for the first time.
The discovery occurred during standard monitoring of livestock at a location where avian influenza was previously found in captive birds. Following the US dairy cow outbreak, Defra implemented livestock monitoring at infected sites.
“We have confirmed the detection of influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in a single sheep on a farm in Yorkshire. Strict biosecurity measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of disease,” UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said.
“While the risk to livestock remains low, I urge all animal owners to ensure scrupulous cleanliness is in place and to report any signs of infection to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately,” Middlemiss added.
The UKHSA confirmed that while avian influenza primarily affects birds with minimal public health risk, people should avoid contact with sick or deceased wild birds.
The Food Standards Agency confirms that properly prepared poultry products and eggs remain safe for consumption, with H5N1 presenting minimal food safety concerns.
Dr Meera Chand from UKHSA said, “Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A(H5N1). However, current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses we’re seeing circulating around the world do not spread easily to people – and the risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low.”
“UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely alongside Defra, DHSC, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Food Standards Agency. UKHSA has established preparations in place for detections of human cases of avian flu and will respond rapidly with NHS and other partners if needed,” Chand added.