By Nigel Hunt LONDON (Reuters) -Bird flu has been detected in a sheep in northern England, the first known case of its kind in the world, Britain's government said, adding to the growing list of mammals infected by the disease and fuelling fears of a pandemic.

The world's first case of bird flu in sheep has been found in the UK, the nation's chief veterinary officer has confirmed. The exact location of the farm has not been revealed, but a government spokesperson said the case was identified on a site in Yorkshire where bird flu had been confirmed in captive birds.

A historic case of bird flu has been identified in a sheep in northern England, marking the first such instance globally. This discovery expands the list of mammals affected and intensifies pandemic fears.