For the first time, bird flu has been detected in a sheep in the United Kingdom, according to an official confirmation from the British government.
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency announced that the virus was found in a sheep in Yorkshire following repeated milk tests. The infection was identified during a routine inspection at a facility where bird flu had already been detected in poultry.
Authorities stated that no additional cases were found within the rest of the sheep herd, and there is no indication of increased risk to the country’s livestock. However, UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss urged farmers to “remain vigilant.”
In response to the ongoing outbreak in the United States, where bird flu has affected cattle in 17 states and caused significant losses in poultry, the British government has strengthened livestock monitoring in infected facilities. The U.S. outbreak has resulted in the deaths of over 166 million birds since 2022, contributing to rising egg prices.
Earlier this month, the United Nations described the rapid spread of the H5N1 virus as “unprecedented” and warned of “serious consequences” for food supply chains, employment in rural areas, and consumer prices.
Meanwhile, European health authorities recently confirmed bird flu infections in domestic cats and wild carnivores, marking its continued spread among mammals. Scientists remain concerned about the virus’s ability to jump between species, raising fears of potential human transmission and a future pandemic risk.
