A dairy sheep from a farm in Yorkshire in the UK tested positive for influenza of avian origin (H5N1) following repeat positive milk testing, according to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), in its 24 March press release. The case was identified following ‘routine surveillance of co-located livestock on a premises where avian influenza had been confirmed in captive birds’ – a farm with both poultry and sheep. Defra introduced livestock surveillance on infected premises following the outbreak of avian influenza in dairy cows in the US.
The infected sheep has been culled and extensively tested. The affected animal had mastitis but no other clinical signs: it was seropositive and its milk was RT-PCR positive. Further testing in the remaining flock of sheep at the farm was undertaken, but no further infection was detected. Strict biosecurity measures have been implemented. A spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency recalled that ‘current evidence suggests that avian influenza viruses currently circulatinsaround the world do not spread easily to people, and the risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low’. This was also one of the findings of the recent FVE webinar on avian influenza.
Unsplash/Mark Fletcher-Brown