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Sheep, March 2025 One domestic sheep (Ovis aries) tested positive for influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in March 2025 . The case was identified following routine surveillance of farmed livestock on a premises in Yorkshire where highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) had been confirmed in other captive birds . The single animal was a ewe with signs of mastitis but no other clinical signs . The milk was positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the blood tested positive for H5 antibodies.   All affected birds and the infected ewe were humanely culled to mitigate the risk of further disease spread. Further official testing of the remaining flock of sheep were all negative for the presence of avian influenza virus. Source: DEFRA,  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bird-flu-avian-influenza-findings-in-captive-mammals/confirmed-findings-of-influenza-of-avian-origin-in-captive-mammals ____

{Highland Scotland} Flock of 23 chickens and 4 goose. Increased mortality reported. Samples taken were found positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6357 ____

On 12th September 2024, a dead Tristan (Brown) Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus hamiltoni) was found at the Gough Island helipad. The following day, a live skua was observed showing suspicious signs of HPAI , including head drooping, lethargy and weakness , and was later reported dead. Between the 12th and 15th September, a total of four skuas were found dead from suspicious causes. Three carcasses were swabbed on the 20th of September and all were confirmed POSITIVE for H5N1 HPAIV by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge laboratory) in the UK on the 24th of October 2024. On the day of sampling, the fourth carcass could not be found and was probably taken away by a scavenging skua. Since then, no further signs of HPAI among skuas or in other seabirds breeding on Gough Island, have been observed. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6354 ____

The UK Health Security Agency has been informed under the International Health Regulations that an individual travelled to England from Nigeria while they were unwell with Lassa fever at the end of February. The individual returned to Nigeria where they were diagnosed . We are now working to identify people who were in contact with the affected individual while they were in the country. Lassa fever does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the public is very low . If you have not been contacted by UKHSA then you are very unlikely to have had any exposure to Lassa fever and do not need to take action. Lassa fever causes acute infections which can range from very mild symptoms through to a severe viral haemorrhagic fever. People usually become infected with Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats – present in some West African countries where the disease is endemic. The virus can also be spread between...

{England} Commercial turkey fattening unit with 27,658 turkeys. Increased mortality and other clinical signs of HPAI reported. The samples were positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6314 ____

{Northern Ireland} About 63,000 68 and 78-week-old layers across four houses. Increased mortality, feed drop and egg abnormalities. The samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6288 ____

 {February 13 2025} Latest update A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm .  The case was detected in London and the individual is now under specialist care at the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently returned from Uganda , where there is currently community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual. The risk to the UK population remains low . In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK. This is the eighth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England since October 2024. This case has no links to the previous cases identified in England. Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent further infections and they w...

480 mixed free-range commercial broiler and layer unit. HPAI clinical signs reported, including depression and reduced food and water intake. Samples taken were positive for H5N1. Region: England, Cornwall. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6255 _____

 Two Greylag Goose, one Eurasian buzzard, two Eurasian Jackdaw, one Whooper Swan, one Common Guineafowl in Northern Ireland. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6248 _____

UKHSA has confirmed a case of influenza A(H5N1) in a person in the West Midlands region. Bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza is rare and has previously occurred a small number of times in the UK . The person acquired the infection on a farm , where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds. The risk to the wider public continues to be very low. The individual is currently well and was admitted to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit. The birds were infected with the DI.2 genotype , one of the viruses known to be circulating in birds in the UK this season. This is different to strains circulating among mammals and birds in the US. Although there has been no demonstrated human-to-human transmission despite extensive recent surveillance of influenza A(H5N1), UKHSA has been tracing all individuals who have been in contact with the confirmed case of avian influenza. Those at highest risk of exposure have been offered antiviral treatmen...

A 1.4 million egg laying and rearing flock . Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples taken tested positive for HPAI H5N1. England, Shropshire Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6209 _____

A 13,316 commercial turkey fattening unit . Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples taken and tested positive for HPAI H5N1. England, East Riding of Yorkshire Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6206 _____

A 240 free-range layer unit . Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples taken and tested positive for HPAI H5N1. England, East Sussex Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6207 _____

{Scotland} Backyard flock with 6 hens, approximately 5 months old. Increased mortality and other clinical signs reported. Official samples were H5N1 HPAI positive. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6186 _____

Abstract Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has caused a panzootic affecting all continents except Australia , expanding its host range to several mammalian species . In March 2024, H5N1 HPAIV was first detected in dairy cattle and goats in the United States . Over 891 dairy farms across 16 states have tested positive until 25th December 2024, with zoonotic infections reported among dairy workers . This raises concerns about the virus undergoing evolutionary changes in cattle that could enhance its zoonotic potential . The Influenza glycoprotein haemagglutinin (HA) facilitates entry into host cells through receptor binding and pH-induced fusion with cellular membranes. Adaptive changes in HA modulate virus-host cell interactions. This study compared the HA genes of cattle and goat H5N1 viruses with the dominant avian-origin clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 in the United Kingdom , focusing on receptor binding, pH fusion, and thermostability. All the tested H5N1 viru...

Abstract Emerging infectious diseases are of major concern to animal and human health . Recent emergence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) led to substantial global mortality across a range of host species . Co-occurring species showed marked differences in mortality, generating an urgent need for better epidemiological understanding within affected populations. We therefore tested for antibodies , indicative of previous exposure and recovery, and for active viral infection in apparently healthy individuals (n = 350) across five co-occurring seabird species on the Isle of May, Scotland , during 2023, following H5N1 HPAIV associated mortality in the preceding summer. Antibody prevalence to AIV subtypes varied substantially between species, ranging from 1.1% in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) (to H5 ) to 78.7% in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) (to H16 or both H13 and H16 ), and between 31 and 41% for three auk species ( H5, H16 or ...