Animal Plant Health Agency
Contents:
- Latest situation
- All bird flu cases and disease zones
- Bird flu guidance
- Vaccines
- Latest GOV.UK news stories
- Risk levels and outbreak assessments
- Wild birds
- Bird flu webinars
- Defra policies and contingency plans
- Bird flu legislation
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.
Check if youre in a bird flu disease zone on the map.
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 2 March
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone the 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone surrounding the following premises have been revoked:
- premises near Bishops Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire (AIV 2022/236)
Update 26 February
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry and other captive birds on 21 November 2022 at a premises near Barnard Castle, County Durham, Durham (AIV 2022/213). 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successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked.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 housed poultry on 1 November 2022 at a premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (AIV 2022/175). 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 31 October 2022 at a premises near March, Fenland, Cambridgeshire (AIV 2022/171). 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of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been revoked.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:
- spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds
- report dead wild birds
- prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
- follow the rules in disease zones
- house your birds safely
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:
- risk and outbreak assessments
- weekly reports of bird flu cases in wild birds in Great Britain
- findings of bird flu in non-avian wildlife
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
Find out how to report dead wild birds.
Defra?has set out practical information to support land managers, the public and ornithological and environmental organisations in their response to the growing threat of bird flu.
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