UK: Bird flu is spreading beyond birds. The highly pathogenic avian influenza has now infected mammals, raising fresh concerns. Hundreds of human cases have already been reported.
Experts warn the virus could mutate, enabling human-to-human transmission and increasing the risk of a new pandemic.
Bird flu cases in mammals have primarily been detected in the Americas and Europe. The latest addition to the list came on Monday when the UK government confirmed the first recorded case of the virus in a sheep on a farm in northern England. This development highlights the expanding reach of the disease across different species.
Mammals such as dairy cows and sheep, which frequently interact with humans, pose a heightened risk of transmission. Others, including wild animals with limited human contact, also contribute to the virus’s spread.
Pigs have emerged as a particular concern in the fight against avian influenza. Since they can be infected by both avian and human flu viruses, they serve as potential mixing vessels where genetic reassortment could create a more virulent strain capable of efficient human-to-human transmission.
According to data from the European Food Safety Authority and the US Department of Agriculture, bird flu has been detected in a variety of mammals between 2016 and 2025.
The virus has already impacted hundreds of wild and captive bird species, further underscoring its adaptability and the growing risk it poses to global public health.
Health experts continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the need for heightened surveillance, improved biosecurity measures, and rapid response strategies to prevent a potential pandemic scenario.
