Calls for calm after bird flu confirmed in sheep at Yorkshire farm

While Government officials withheld the location of the outbreak, earlier this month highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at three premises near Thirsk, while there have been numerous other recent outbreaks at poultry farms in the region, including near Pocklington, Driffield and Easingwold.

The infected sheep was humanely culled and no further infection was detected in the remaining flock, the Government said. While there has been an outbreak of the disease in dairy cows in the US, it is the first time the virus has been reported in sheep in the UK.

Officials have emphasised it is not the first time bird flu had been found in livestock in other countries, and there is no increased risk to the UK’s farm animal population. But they called on all farmers and livestock keepers to be vigilant and practise good biosecurity measures to protect their animals and prevent further spread if there is an outbreak.

Ms Middlemiss said: “While the risk to livestock remains low, I urge all animal owners to ensure scrupulous cleanliness is in place and to report any signs of infection to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately.”

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Farmers are understandably concerned that avian influenza has been found in a sheep. This remains a single case within what is understood to be a backyard flock, and no other infection has been found amongst the remaining sheep.”

The National Sheep Association stressed the case was confined to one small holding and was not a food security risk.