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.
The AIPZ declarations in England and in Wales set out the strict biosecurity measures all bird keepers must follow to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.
In the United Kingdom, there have been 178 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:
- 150 cases in England
- 21 cases in Scotland
- 6 cases in Wales
- 1 case in Northern Ireland
There have been 285 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.
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 20 April
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3 km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been revoked for a premises near Horley, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey (AIV 2022/233).
Update 19 April
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3 km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been revoked for twelfth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/124).
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for the following locations:
- fifth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/91)
- premises near Long Stratton, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/142)
- premises near Diss, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV2022/232)
- second premises near Diss, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV2022/238)
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3 km protection zone has ended and the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for the following locations:
- premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/75)
- second premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/82)
- third premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/86)
- fourth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/87)
- sixth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/94)
- seventh premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/102)
- eighth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/105)
- ninth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/110)
- tenth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/111)
- eleventh premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/116)
- second premises near Wymondham, Norfolk (AIV 2022/121)
- premises near Hingham, Norfolk (AIV 2022/122)
- third premises near Wymondham, Norfolk (AIV 2022/129)
- third premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/133)
- fourth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/136)
- fourth premises near Wymondham, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/138)
- thirteenth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/143)
- seventh premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/153)
- fourteenth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/164)
- fifteenth premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2022/179)
- fifth premises near Wymondham, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/193)
Update 18 April
Mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England and Wales to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023.
The avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity requirements remains in force. Scrupulous biosecurity remains the most effective method of disease control available, and all bird keepers must continue to meet the enhanced biosecurity measures set out in the declaration.
This means that from 18 April 2023, eggs laid by birds with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as free range eggs.
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
- follow the rules if you keep racing pigeons, birds of prey and other captive birds
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.