Avian flu: First case in sheep in UK

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom has reported the first case of A(H5N1) infection in a sheep from a flock on a farm in Yorkshire, UK. The infected animal was euthanised. The source further noted that no additional cases have been identified in the same flock at this time. In light of this development, the government has issued a statement urging farmers to heighten their vigilance for any indications of potential outbreaks of avian influenza. The identification of the case was made after repeated positive tests on milk as part of checks in an area where the virus had previously been detected in captive birds. According to Matteo Bassetti, who serves as the Director of Infectious Diseases at the San Martino Polyclinic Hospital in Genoa, Italy, the virus has been recognized since the late 1990s. It is distinguished by its rapid mutability and capacity to rapidly spread from one animal species to another, as evidenced by its transmission from chickens, cows, cats, and sheep, including humans. However, at present, human-to-human contagion has been ruled out.