First Case of Bird Flu Detected in a Sheep in England

Routine surveillance in Yorkshire identified H5N1 in a sheep, with authorities emphasizing low risk to public health and livestock.

The British government confirmed the first detection of bird flu (H5N1) in a sheep in England on March 24, 2025.
The case was identified during routine surveillance on a Yorkshire farm where the virus had already been found in captive birds.
The infected sheep was culled, and no further cases were detected in the flock following additional testing.
Authorities stated there is no evidence of increased risk to the UK's livestock population from this case.
H5N1, primarily affecting birds, has occasionally been detected in mammals globally, though human transmission remains rare.