Bird flu detected in sheep in England for the first time
No further infection of the virus was detected in the remaining flock at the premises in the Yorkshire area, but the government has urged livestock farmers to remain vigilant for any signs of potential bird flu outbreaks.
Monday 24 March 2025 11:51, UK
Bird flu has been detected in a sheep in England for the first time, the government has said.
The single case was identified in Yorkshire during a routine check of livestock on a farm where the H5N1 virus, also called avian influenza, had previously been confirmed in captive birds.
No further infection of the virus was detected in the remaining flock, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said.
"While this is the first time this virus has been reported in a sheep, it is not the first time influenza of avian origin has been detected in livestock in other countries," it added.
"There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the nation's livestock population."
DEFRA said it has been introducing livestock surveillance on infected premises following the outbreak of avian influenza in dairy cows in the US.
The infected sheep has been humanely culled to enable extensive testing, it said.
Livestock farmers are being urged to remain vigilant to any signs of bird flu following recent outbreaks.
The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "We have confirmed the detection of influenza of avian origin in a single sheep on a farm in Yorkshire.
"Strict biosecurity measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of disease.
"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."
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Dr Meera Chand, of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza.
"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."
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The Food Standards Agency has said properly cooked poultry and associated products, including eggs, remain safe to eat.
Bird flu poses a very low food safety risk to UK consumers since the virus is not normally transmitted through food, it added.