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Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

Animal Plant Health Agency

December 13
10:56 2022

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 143 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:

  • 129 cases in England
  • 10 cases in Scotland
  • 3 cases in Wales
  • 1 case in Northern Ireland

There have been 263 cases of (HPAI)H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

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 11 December

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 11 December 2022 at a second premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV2022/226). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at premises near Audlem, East Cheshire, Cheshire (AIV 2022/128) on 16 October 2022. Following successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zone, the protection zones have ended and the area that formed the protection zone becomes part of the surveillance zone. All birds have been humanely culled.

Update 10 December

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at premises near Lowestoft, East Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV 2022/84) on 29 September 2022. Following successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zone, the protection zones have ended and the area that formed the protection zone becomes part of the surveillance zone. All birds have been humanely culled.

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.

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:

You can read guidance about bird flu vaccination.

Risk levels

The risk of 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.

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.

The mitigation strategy for avian influenza in wild birds in England and Wales explains how these groups, together with the government and its delivery partners, can reduce the impact on wild bird populations whilst protecting public health, the wider environment and the rural economy.

Landowners, local authorities and other organisations can download and print bird flu posters to display on site when there is a risk of bird flu or if bird flu has been detected in the area.

Read weekly reports of bird flu cases in wild birds in Great Britain.

Bird flu webinars

Whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, the avian influenza stop the spread webinars explain what you can do to protect your birds.

Defra?policies and contingency plans

Defra?controls case

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