The world’s first case of avian influenza has been detected in sheep, and in the UK, Defra has confirmed.
The H5N1 bird flu strain was found in a single sheep on a farm in Yorkshire, where the disease had already been confirmed in captive birds.
The ewe tested positive for H5 antibodies in the blood, and her milk tested positive for H5 genetic material. All affected birds and the infected ewe had been humanely culled to mitigate the risk of further disease spread, Defra said.
Further official testing of the remaining flock of sheep at the premises, including the lambs of the affected ewe, were negative for the presence of avian influenza virus.
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. The H5N1 strain was discovered for the first time in US dairy cows last March, with the virus having since spread across numerous states, while new outbreaks also continue to be detected.
Defra also confirmed the detection of H5N1 in grey seals on the north Norfolk coast last week, though it stressed “there is no evidence to suggest there is an increased risk to non-avian wildlife”.
The case in sheep had been discovered following routine surveillance of co-located livestock on a premises where avian influenza had been confirmed in captive birds. Defra introduced livestock surveillance on infected premises following the outbreak of bird flu in US cows.
However, there was “no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the nation’s livestock population”, it said.
“Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza,” said Dr Meera Chand, emerging infection lead at the UK Health Security Agency.
“However, current evidence suggests 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 continued to monitor the situation closely alongside Defra, DHSC, the Animal & Plant Health Agency and the Food Standards Agency, she said.
“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.”
Responding to the case, the National Sheep Association said its discovery raised questions about the “questionable” mixing of species on some farms, which should be avoided when England was “undergoing a period of mandatory housing measures for poultry due to bird flu outbreaks”.
“What this shows is the importance of biosecurity and an understanding of what biosecurity means,” said NSA CEO Phil Stocker.
“In the sheep industry we often think the term just refers to buying in stock, but in this instance sheep and poultry have mixed on the same farm, resulting in the transmission of avian influenza.”
No comments yet