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Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

Animal Plant Health Agency

April 6
18:43 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 176 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:

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

There have been 284 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 6 April

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for the following:

  • premises near Holt, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/65)
  • second premises near Holt, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/106)
  • second premises near Fakenham, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2022/186)
  • third premises near Fakenham, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV2023/01)
  • near Wells-next-the-sea, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2023/06)

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the surveillance zone has been revoked for a premises near Cromer, North Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2023/07).

Update 5 April

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for a premises near Pickering, Ryedale, North Yorkshire (AIV 2022/230).

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been revoked for a premises near Skirlaugh, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2022/235).

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed the protection zone becomes part of the 10km surveillance zone for the following locations:

  • near Much Marcle, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2022/227)
  • near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2022/229)

Update 4 April

The risk of poultry exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in Great Britain:

  • has been reduced from high (event occurs very often) (with low uncertainty) to medium (event occurs regularly) (with high uncertainty) where there are substantial biosecurity breaches and poor biosecurity
  • remains assessed as low (event is rare but does occur) (with high uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied

The risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain also remains assessed as high (the event occurs very often).

Further information on the evidence which supports these risk levels can be found in our risk and outbreak assessments.

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 avian influenza (HPAI) 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:

  • medium (event occurs regularly) (with high 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:

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