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Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

Animal Plant Health Agency

February 25
14:19 2023

Contents:

Latest situation

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law you must follow strict biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

In England and Wales the AIPZ also means you must house your birds to protect them from bird flu.

In the United Kingdom, there have been 174 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:

  • 147 cases in England
  • 21 cases in Scotland
  • 5 cases in Wales
  • 1 case in Northern Ireland

There have been 282 cases of (HPAI)H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

If youre in a bird flu disease zone you must follow the rules for that zone and check if you need a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals.

Update 25 February

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial housed poultry on 27 October 2022 at a premises near Waltham on the Wolds, Melton, Leicestershire (AIV 2022/162). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 8 December 2022 at a premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV2022/225). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the area becomes part of the 10km surveillance zone.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 11 December 2022 at a second premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV 2022/226). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the area becomes part of the 10km surveillance zone.

Update 23 February

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds on 23 February 2023 at a second premises near Appleby-in-Westmorland, Eden, Cumbria (AIV2023/19). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been put in place around the premises. The birds will be humanely culled.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial housed poultry on 2 November 2022 at a premises near Boston, Boston, Lincolnshire (AIV 2022/176). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the area becomes part of the 10km surveillance zone.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds on 22 November 2022 at a premises near Napton on the Hill, Kenilworth and Southam, Warwickshire (AIV 2022/214). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been revoked.

All bird flu cases and disease zones

Find details of all bird flu cases and disease zones in England.

Find details of bird flu cases in Scotland, cases in Wales and cases in Northern Ireland.

Bird flu guidance

Find out how to:

Find out when game birds are kept or wild and the rules you need to follow if you keep, release or catch them up.

Vaccines

You cannot vaccinate poultry or most captive birds against bird flu in England.

You can only vaccinate zoo birds in England if you meet eligibility criteria and get authorisation from APHA. Only zoos or collections holding a current zoo licence can apply for vaccination.

Defra continues to invest in bird flu research and monitors the situation globally.

We work with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to monitor the development of vaccines for birds.

Latest GOV.UK news stories

Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are now in force across England.

Find details of the measures that apply in England: AIPZ declaration including housing measures.

New package of measures announced to support poultry industry with bird flu.

Risk levels and outbreak assessments

The risk of highly pathogenic (HPAI) avian influenza H5 in wild birds in Great Britain is assessed as very high (the event occurs almost certainly).

The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 in Great Britain is assessed as:

  • high (event occurs very often) (with low uncertainty) where there are substantial biosecurity breaches and poor biosecurity
  • medium (event occurs regularly) (with high uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied

Find details of the evidence that supported these decisions in the:

The UK Health Security Agency

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