Animal Plant Health Agency
Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other mammals.
Avian influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease.
Reporting suspected bird flu in poultry or captive birds
If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.
Reporting dead wild birds
You should call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you find:
- one or more dead bird of prey or owl
- 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)
- 5 or more dead birds of any species
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find. For further information see our advice to the public.
All bird keepers (whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) must keep a close watch on them for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet.
You should register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so we can contact you during an outbreak. This is a legal requirement if you have 50 or more birds. Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.
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Latest situation
There have been 91 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in England since 1 October 2022. There have been 225 cases of(HPAI)H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started on 27 October 2021.
Update 3 November
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 3 November 2022 at the following:
- fifteenth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk
- second premises near Halesworth, East Suffolk, Suffolk
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are in place around each of the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was also confirmed in non-commercial other captive birds at a premises near Lancaster, Lancashire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone is in place around the premises. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled.
Update 2 November
Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November: these were announced on Monday 31 October.
The housing measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.
This will extend the mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot area of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex to the whole of England, following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to very high. See ourpress releasefor more information.
Find details of the measures that will apply in the new England wide zone from 00.01 on Monday 7 November:
Find details of cases and the measures that apply in disease control zones.
Find out about licences for movements from disease control zones.
All poultry gatherings, including at fairs, shows and markets, remain banned, due to a large number of flocks mixing together and the risk posed by any infections spreading across the country.
Stop the spread webinars
While the risk of avian influenza has reduced, cases of bird flu continue to be confirmed in both poultry and other captive birds. All bird keepers should continue to implement strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease from poultry and other captive birds.
Whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, you can find out what you can do to keep your birds free of avian influenza by watching one our avian influenza stop the spread webinars.
Avian Influenza Prevention Zones
Following a change in the risk levels and an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in kept and wild birds, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have declared a UK wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.
This means that from midday on Monday 17 October, it was a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the UK to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu. Separate AIPZ declarations are available for each UK administration.
To help bird keepers comply with the rules, weve updated the biosecurity advice.
For further details in:
- Scotland - go to the Scottish Government website
- Wales - go to the Welsh Government website
- Northern Ireland go to the DAERA website
Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex
Following a further increase in cases in the area, mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex were introduced on 12 October 2022.
This means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in these areas to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.
Details of the conditions and a map of the zone can be found in the declaration.