Bird Flu Detected in UK Sheep: Government Issues Alert
The government has released a strong advisory following the confirmation of bird flu in a sheep in the UK, marking the first such instance.
First Case in Sheep Identified in Yorkshire
The infection was discovered in Yorkshire through routine monitoring at a site where avian influenza had previously been identified in captive birds.
According to an official statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), “The affected sheep was humanely euthanized to facilitate thorough testing.”
H5N1 Strain Confirmed
This marks the initial detection of the H5N1 strain in a sheep within England. While novel for sheep in this country, similar cases have been reported in livestock internationally.
Global Context of Bird Flu Cases
- United States: In January, the first human fatality linked to bird flu in the U.S. occurred in Louisiana. The deceased, a 65-year-old individual with pre-existing health issues, contracted the virus after exposure to domestic and wild birds.
- Human Health Risk: Louisiana health authorities emphasized at the time that “While the current public health risk to the general population remains minimal, individuals who work with or are regularly exposed to birds, poultry, or cattle face a heightened risk.”
In late January, a patient in the Midlands was diagnosed with H5N1 after ‘close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds’
The strain, H5N1, has been detected in a sheep in England, and previously in livestock in other countries such as the US. Pictured: Dead cows at a Californian dairy farm.
Prior Human Case in the UK
This sheep infection follows a human case of bird flu in England earlier this year. A UK resident, believed to be from the West Midlands, is thought to have contracted the virus at a farm experiencing a bird flu outbreak.
The human case was detected through standard testing of individuals who had been in close proximity to infected poultry.
Bird Flu in Cattle and Other Animals
Bird flu has triggered multiple outbreaks in cattle in the United States, subsequently spreading to farm workers at dairy operations. Cases have also been found in pigs.
In November, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tested 115 farm workers at affected farms, with eight testing positive for the virus, representing a 7% infection rate.
Many infected workers displayed no symptoms, raising concerns among officials that H5N1 may be more widespread than initially understood.
By late last year, numerous American cattle farms across several states had confirmed bird flu outbreaks in their livestock.
Currently, no cases have been identified in UK cattle, but authorities are closely monitoring herds due to the potential risk.
UK scientists assessing ‘scenarios of early human transmission’ of bird flu have cautioned that potential fatalities could reach 5% if the virus were to spread widely in humans (scenario three). Other projections considered scenarios with lower mortality rates, comparable to earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (scenarios one and two).
Alan Gosling (pictured), a retired engineer from Devon, contracted bird flu in early 2022 after his ducks became infected.
Wider Mammal Vulnerability and Pandemic Concerns
H5N1 has demonstrated the ability to infect various mammal species, including mink, foxes, raccoons, bears, and seals.
Domestic pets are also susceptible, with at least 99 domestic cats in the US infected since late 2022, some through contaminated raw pet food.
Health experts are concerned about the virus’s capacity to jump across species, as each transmission event provides an opportunity for mutations that could enhance its ability to infect humans.
Experts have previously indicated that this situation theoretically poses a pandemic risk, although current evidence does not suggest an imminent threat.
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases specialist from the University of East Anglia, stated, “The concern is that if the virus evolves to spread more efficiently in humans, we could face another pandemic. While there is no current evidence of this, such a development cannot be ruled out.”
Human Transmission and Symptoms
Human infection from consuming properly cooked poultry and game birds is considered unlikely due to the virus’s heat sensitivity.
Most human infections occur when the virus enters the eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled.
Typical symptoms in humans include high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, and general fatigue.
Similar to seasonal flu, bird flu can progress to severe respiratory illness and pneumonia.
Previous Human Bird Flu Cases in Britain
The UK has experienced human bird flu cases before. In early 2022, Alan Gosling, a retired engineer in Devon who kept ducks, contracted the virus after his pets became infected. He subsequently tested negative after a nearly three-week quarantine.