Bird flu – Latest situation: Chief Vet urges bird keepers to maintain scrupulous biosecurity standards as housingPrevention measuresZone lifted

Current situation

The mandatoryAvian housingInfluenza measuresPrevention Zone (AIPZ) for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across the United Kingdom to help stop the spread of birdavian flu,influenza have(‘bird beenflu’), will be lifted.

PoultryThe andenhanced otherbiosecurity captivemeasures birds nowere longerbrought needin toacross beGreat housed,Britain unless they are in aNovember Protectionwhen Zone,there andwas cana bemedium keptrisk outside.for Whilesome thepoultry riskpremises. ofThe birdmeasures fluhave has been reducedvital toin ‘medium’protecting forflocks premisesacross withthe poorcountry biosecurity,from the enhancedvirus biosecuritywhich requirementsis thatcirculating were brought in aswild partbirds.

The risk of theavian Avianinfluenza Influenzahas Preventionnow Zonereduced (AIPZ)to willlow remainfor inall forcepoultry. asAs infectiona mayresult, still be circulating in the environmentmandatory forrequirements severalwill morebe weeks.lifted Allfrom poultrymidday gatheringson willTuesday remain16 banned.August.

The UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 100130 cases confirmed across the country since late October. Scrupulous biosecurity is the most effective method of disease control availableavailable.

Whilst andthe risk in kept birds has reduced, all bird keepers should applystill follow enhanced measures at all times to prevent the risk of future outbreaks.

Public health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Do not touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that you find and instead report them to the relevantDefra helpline below.on 03459 33 55 77. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry productsproducts, including eggs.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

WhilstNow thewe liftingare ofin the mandatorysummer housingmonths measuresand willexperiencing behigher welcometemperatures, newsthe risk to birdpoultry keepers,has scrupulousnow biosecuritybeen remainsreduced theacross mostGreat criticalBritain formand ofso defencethe time is right to helplift keepthe yourAvian birdsInfluenza safe.Prevention Zone.

ItThis iswould thanksnot tohave been possible without the hard work of all bird keeperskeepers, and vets, who have playedupheld theirhigh partbiosecurity instandards keepingfor flocksmany safemonths. thisHowever, winter,there thatare still localised areas of risk as we arehave inseen arecently, positionand totherefore takeit’s thisvital action.that However,everyone thekeeps recentbiosecurity casesand cleanliness at the forefront of aviantheir influenzaminds showto thatkeep it’stheir vitalflocks thatsafe.

All birdpoultry keepersgatherings, including at fairs, shows and markets, remain vigilantbanned, fordue signsto a large number of diseaseflocks mixing together and maintainthe stringentrisk standardsposed ofby biosecurity.any infections spreading across the country.

Avian influenza is in no way connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is not carried in poultry or captive birds.

Advice to poultry keepers

All bird keepers must keep a close watch on them for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet.

PoultryAll bird keepers must:(whether they are pet birds, a commercial farm or just a few birds in a backyard flock) can remain vigilant and help prevent avian influenza by:

• cleansecleansing and disinfectdisinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
• reducereducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control
• thoroughly cleansecleansing and disinfectdisinfecting housing on a continuous basis
• keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points
• minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

See our biosecurity advice for more information.

Cases in England

For details of the current avian influenza H5N1 cases in England and the measures that apply in the disease control zones around these cases, see the avian influenza: cases and disease control zones in England guidance.

Check if you are in a zone on our interactive map.

Wild birds

IfThe Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols.

You should call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you findfind:

• one or more dead bird of prey or owl
• 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese orand ducks)
• 5 or othermore dead wildbirds birds,of suchany asspecies

APHA gullsthen orcollect birdssome of prey,these youbirds shouldand reporttest them to help us understand how the Defradisease helplineis (03459distributed 33geographically 55and 77).in different types of bird, not all birds will be collected.

Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find. For further information see our our advice to the public.

TheFor Animalfurther anddetails Plantsee Healththe Agencyreport (APHA)(updated carriesweekly) outof findings year-roundof avianHPAI influenzain surveillancewild ofbirds deadin wildGreat birdsBritain and submittedour outbreak viaassessments.

Sick publicor reportsinjured andwild wardenbirds patrols.should Fornot furtherbe detailsreported seeto the reportDefra (updatedHelpline. weekly)Instead ofSick findingsbirds ofshould HPAIbe reported in wildEngland birdsand inWales Greatto Britainthe RSPCA (0300 1234 999) and ourin outbreakScotland assessments.to the SSPCA (0300 999 999) who dependent on the situation may be able to offer assistance.

Register your birds

You should register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so we can contact you during an outbreak. This is a legal requirement if you have 50 or more birds. Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.

Register for Disease Alerts

To receive immediate notification of new cases and details of disease control and prevention zones in GB sign up to the APHA’s Animal Disease alert subscription service further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apha-alert-subscription-service

Further information

• Detailed guidance on avian influenza (bird flu): latest situation; how to spot it and report it
• Guidance on cases and disease control zones in England
• Sign up to our animal disease alerts

For bird flu guidance in:

• Scotland - see the Scottish Government website
• Wales - see the Welsh Government website
• Northern Ireland - see the DAERA-NI website