Quick Takes: UK Reports 4th Clade 1b Mpox Case, More Avian Flu in US Cows and Poultry, UK Raises H5 Risk Level

Nov 07, 2024

By Lisa Schnirring

The United Kingdom today reported one more clade 1b mpox case, in the third household member of the country’s first imported case, the Health Security Agency (HSA) said today in an update. The UK has now reported four cases, the first cluster outside of Africa. The latest patient is receiving care at a hospital in London. Health officials said further cases in the same household aren’t surprising, given how infectious it is in that setting. The UK’s index patient was exposed to the virus during recent travel to African countries experiencing mpox outbreaks.
Over the last 2 days, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed one more H5N1 avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle, which involves a ninth herd in Utah. The event pushes the national total in dairy cows to 443 outbreaks across 15 states. Also, APHIS confirmed one more H5N1 outbreak in poultry, which involves backyard birds in Montana’s Flathead County.
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) yesterday raised the risk level for highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza from medium to high following the identification of H5N5 at a commercial poultry farm in Yorkshire. It said though detections in wild birds in recent years have been dominated by H5N1, the identification of H5N5 was likely and follows earlier detections in Great Britain and continental Europe.

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.