Bird flu found in sheep should be a reminder of biosecurity importance
26th March 2025
The discovery of a strain of avian influenza in a sheep for the first time should be a reminder to sheep keepers of the importance of biosecurity on holdings with poultry, said the National Sheep Association.
A single sheep in Yorkshire was confirmed positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza over the weekend. The sheep was tested after H5N1 has been found in poultry on the farm. Blood and milk samples were positive.
Importantly, the NSA stresses that the case is confined to one small holding and is not a food security risk.
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “This is not a threat to food safety of consumers, and it’s very important to make that clear.
“What this shows though, is the importance of biosecurity and an understanding of what biosecurity means. In the sheep industry we often think the term just refers to buying in stock, but in this instance sheep and poultry have mixed on the same farm, resulting in the transmission of avian influenza.”
The importance of good biosecurity
Mr Stocker added that mixing of species is questionable at the best of times, but should be avoided when England is undergoing a period of mandatory housing measures for poultry due to bird flu outbreaks.
Defra has placed England in an avian influenza protection zone with mandatory biosecurity measures. Furthermore, there are 13 regions in which mandatory housing measures apply: Cheshire, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, and York.
Helen Roberts, NSA Cymru development officer, added: “Although this news is not welcome at this time of year, it does give us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of good biosecurity, especially with lambing for many just around the corner and to be vigilant with our flock. We want to do our utmost to retain our high health and welfare standards of the national flock.”
A Defra spokesperson concluded: “While this is the first time avian influenza virus has been detected in a sheep, it is not the first time influenza of avian origin has been detected in livestock in other countries. There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the nation’s livestock population.”
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