British health officials reported on Monday that a case of bird flu was found in a single sheep in Yorkshire, the world’s first.
“We have confirmed the detection of influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in a single sheep on a farm in Yorkshire,” the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement on Monday.
“Strict biosecurity measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of disease.”
The chief veterinary officer said the case was discovered during a routine surveillance of livestock on a farm where birds had previously been found infected with avian flu. Repeat positive milk testing indicated that the animal had contracted the disease.
To prevent further infection, the infected sheep has since been culled and its body will be extensively tested, the Veterinary Office said.
None of the other sheep were found carrying the virus.
The bird flu has been detected in livestock in the United States and elsewhere before, but this is the first time it was found in a sheep, the agency said.
Usually, the infection spreads to mammals scavenging dead or dying birds.
The novelty does not point to an increased risk to the nation’s livestock population, the Animal and Plant Health Agency said. The agency also urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of the disease.
Infected animals may show typical flu-like symptoms like breathing difficulties (mouth breathing), sneezing, closed and runny eyes, lethargy, and lowered appetite, but also neurological symptoms, such as diminished coordination, shivering, and convulsions, according to the agency.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) assessed that the risk to the general public’s health is “very low,” but warns people against touching any dead or sick wild birds they may find.
Middlemiss said all animal owners should ensure “scrupulous cleanliness” and report any signs of infection to the Animal and Plant Health Agency without delay.
“All keepers must maintain good biosecurity which is essential to protect the health and welfare of their animals and critical to preventing the further spread of disease in the event of an outbreak,” the veterinary officer said.
Test results will be relayed to both the World Organisation for Animal Health and the World Health Organisation, per legal requirement.
“Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A(H5N1),” said Meera Chand, emerging infection lead at the UKHSA.
“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.”
Measures have been put in place for detection of human cases so as to secure a rapid response, Chand added.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently lists 70 cases of bird flu across the country, with California accounting for 38 of currently confirmed cases.
