UK: First detection of H5N1 bird flu virus in sheep

On March 24, the British government announced that it had discovered the first case of sheep infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The infection was identified during routine surveillance of a sheep in Yorkshire, England, where H5N1 has been found in domestic birds.

Warning notice about the location where bird flu was detected. Photo: THE MIRROR

The UK government has said there is no evidence of an increased risk to the country's cattle population. However, the authorities have urged farmers and livestock keepers across the country to be alert for clinical signs of the disease. Dr Christine Middlemiss said strict biosecurity measures were in place on the farm to prevent the spread of the disease.

While this is the first time H5N1 has been detected in sheep in the UK, it is not the first time it has been detected in cattle in other countries. In the US, more than 700 dairy herds have been infected with the virus since 2024, mostly in California. In December 2024, the US Department of Agriculture issued a federal order to test the country's milk supply due to the spike.

MINH CHAU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/anh-lan-dau-tien-phat-hien-virus-cum-gia-cam-h5n1-o-cuu-post787437.html