In the UK, authorities said further testing of the rest of the sheep flock had not found any other infectious diseases. Infected sheep are humanely culled to reduce further risk and “enable broad testing.”
“Strict biosecurity measures are being implemented to prevent further spread of the disease,” said Christine Middlemiss, UK veterinary director, in a statement. “While the risk to livestock remains low, we encourage all animal owners to ensure that thorough cleanliness is in place and immediately report any signs of infection to the animal and plant health agency.”
While British officials believe the ripples are being contained and there is no positive infection among sheep, the latest ripples to new mammal species remind us of the looming threat of the virus.
“Globally, we continue to see that mammals can contract bird flu A (H5N1),” said Meera Chand, emerging infectious disease lead at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in a statement. In the US, the Department of Agriculture has recorded hundreds of infections Wild and reared mammalsFrom cats to bears, raccoons, and harbor stickers.
Chand pointed out so far that animal spills are not easily transmitted to humans. In the United States, for example, despite the vast spread of the dairy industry, human-to-human transmission has yet to be documented. However, experts fear that more ripple effects and human exposure will allow the virus to gain more opportunities.
Chand says the UKHSA and other agencies are closely monitoring the situation when things are changing. “The UKHSA has established preparations for the detection of human cases of avian influenza and will respond promptly to the NHS and other partners when necessary.”
