GovWire

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

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.

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 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.

Update 17 April

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control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 3 km protection zone has ended and the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for a premises near Thorpe Culvert, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (AIV 2022/206)

Update 15 April

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successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked for the following locations:

• a premises near Much Marcle, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2022/227)
• a premises near Wheaton Aston, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire (AIV 2022/210)

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

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

Bird keepers must maintain scrupulous biosecurity standards as housing measures set to be lifted.

Consultation launched on new registration rules for all bird keepers in Great Britain.

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:

• risk and outbreak assessments
• weekly reports of bird flu cases in wild birds in Great Britain
• findings of bird flu in non-avian wildlife
• findings of bird flu in captive mammals

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

View the original news story