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Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

Animal Plant Health Agency

March 25
17:08 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 175 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:

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

There have been 283 cases of (HPAI)H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

In the United Kingdom, there has been 1 confirmed case of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N3 since 1 October 2022. This case was confirmed in Scotland on 20 March 2023.

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 March

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for a premises near Langwathby, Eden, Cumbria (AIV 2023/02).

Update 24 March

The number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in poultry and wild birds has been falling since the end of 2022, which has led to the risk levels being reduced.

The risk of incursion of HPAI avian influenza H5 in wild birds in Great Britain has been reduced from very high (event occurs almost certainly) to high (event occurs very often).

The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 in Great Britain remains assessed as high (event occurs very often) (with low uncertainty) where there are substantial biosecurity breaches and poor biosecurity. However it has been reduced from medium (event occurs regularly) (with medium uncertainty) to low (event is rare but does occur) (with high uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied.

The risk levels and outbreak assessments section has more information about risk levels, and the evidence that supports them.

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 high (the event occurs very often).

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
  • low (event is rare but does occur) (with high uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied

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

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advise that bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general publics health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Wild birds

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