First case of bird flu in sheep found on Yorkshire farm
A government spokesperson said the infected sheep was a female who had been showing signs of mastitis, an inflammation of the breast tissue.
The lambs of the affected ewe tested negative for bird flu, the spokesperson added.
While this is the first time this virus has been reported in a sheep, bird flu has previously been detected in livestock in other countries, according to Defra.
Getty Images
The National Sheep Association, which represents the views and interests of sheep producers in the UK, said mixing different animals was "questionable at the best of times, but should be avoided when England is undergoing a period of mandatory housing measures for poultry due to bird flu outbreaks".
Defra has placed England in an "avian influenza protection zone" to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.
Thirteen regions have also seen mandatory housing measures introduced, which state that birds must be kept inside.
They are Cheshire, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, and York.
The Food Standards Agency said properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remained safe to eat.
