Animal Plant Health Agency
Contents:
- Latest situation
- Latest GOV.UK news stories
- All bird flu cases and disease zones
- Bird flu guidance
- Risk levels
- 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 142 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:
- 128 cases in England
- 10 cases in Scotland
- 3 cases in Wales
- 1 case in Northern Ireland
There have been 261 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 8 December 2022
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 8 December 2022 at a premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk (AIV2022/225). 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 commercial poultry on 4 October 2022 at a premises near Faringdon, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire (AIV 2022/90). Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked.
Update 7 December
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at the following premises:
- near Kidsgrove, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire (AIV 2022/88)
- near Frome, Mendip, Somerset (AIV 2022/95)
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.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with housing measures has been amended to clarify the position on the free flying of certain birds and the release of game birds in an AIPZ with housing measures.
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:
- spot and report bird flu
- prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
- follow the rules in disease zones
- house your birds safely
Find 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 and medium (that is 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.
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 cases of bird flu by following the:
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 of on wild bird populations whilst protecting public health, the wider environment and the rural economy.
Find out to report findings of dead wild birds.