The world’s first case of avian influenza was discovered in a sheep in the United Kingdom. The H5N1 virus found in a single animal in Yorkshire does not increase the risk to humans, according to health officials.
The animal was routinely tested after the flock, which was kept on a site where avian influenza had previously been found in birds. No other sheep in the flock were found to be infected.
According to a report by The Guardian, the infected animal has since been culled, with the UK’s chief veterinary officer saying strict biosecurity measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of disease. “While the risk to livestock remains low, I urge all animal owners to ensure scrupulous cleanliness is in place and to report any signs of infection to the Animal and Plant Health Agency immediately,” Christine Middlemiss said.
While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes there is no evidence H5N1 passes from human to human, the virus has been detected in a wide range animals other than birds including cats, foxes, otters, bush dogs and pigs, with experts saying a new variant is endemic in dairy cows in the US.
The appearance of H5N1 in cows has been a shock for scientists, given it was previously thought such animals could not easily be infected with the virus.
H5N1 has also been found in humans, although such cases have largely been in dairy and poultry workers. The most recent case in the UK was reported in January, in a farm worker who is known to have had contact with a large number of infected birds. –The Guardian
“Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A(H5N1). However, 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,” said Dr. Meera Chand, the emerging infection lead at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
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The official experts continue to say the risk to human beings is low.
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