"Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A (H5N1)," Meera Chand, Emerging Infection Lead at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said in a statement. In the US, the Department of Agriculture has documented hundreds of infections in wild and captive mammals, from cats to bears, raccoons, and harbor seals.

A single sheep on a Yorkshire farm has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed. The detection was made during routine surveillance after birds on the farm had become infected, but it marks the first time the virus has been found in a sheep.