Guidance

Avian influenza (bird flu)

How to spot avian influenza (bird flu), what to do if you suspect it, and measures to prevent it.

Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other mammals.

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease.

Reporting suspected bird flu in poultry or captive birds

If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

Reporting dead wild birds

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

  • one or more dead bird of prey or owl
  • 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks) 
  • 5 or more dead birds of any species

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

All bird keepers (whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) 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.

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.

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Latest situation

There have been 73 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in England since 1 October 2022. There have been 207 cases of HPAI H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started on 27 October 2021.

Update 26 October

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 26 October at the following premises. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared surrounding each of the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

  • third premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
  • ninth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk
  • near Stalham, North Norfolk, Norfolk
  • eighth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a small flock of non-commercial poultry on 26 October at a premises near Much Hoole, South Ribble, Lancashire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been declared around the premises. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled.

Update 24 October

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry on 24 October at the following premises:

  • near Pilling, Wyre, Lancashire
  • third near Dartington, South Hams, Devon

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared around each of the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

For details of the cases and the measures that apply in the disease control zones in England, see the avian influenza: cases and disease control zones in England guidance. You can also find out about licences for movements from disease control zones in force.

All poultry gatherings, including at fairs, shows and markets, remain banned, due to a large number of flocks mixing together and the risk posed by any infections spreading across the country.

‘Stop the spread’ webinars

While the risk of avian influenza has reduced, cases of bird flu continue to be confirmed in both poultry and other captive birds. All bird keepers should continue to implement strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease from poultry and other captive birds.

Whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, you can find out what you can do to keep your birds free of avian influenza by watching one our avian influenza ‘stop the spread’ webinars.

Avian Influenza Prevention Zones

Following a change in the risk levels and an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in kept and wild birds, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have declared a UK wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.

This means that from midday on Monday 17 October, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the UK to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu. Separate AIPZ declarations arewere availablemade forin each UK administration. For further details in:

AIPZs in England

Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex

ToFollowing helpa further increase in cases in the area, mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex were introduced from 00:01 on 12 October 2022, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

The housing order legally requires all bird keepers complyin withthese hotspots to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the rules,disease, we’veregardless updatedof type or size.

Details of the biosecurityconditions adviceand a map of the zone can be found in the declaration.

Declaration of a Regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone - including housing measures (England Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex)

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Request an accessible format.
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This declaration revokes and replaces:

Declaration of a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (England Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex) (PDF, 406 KB, 7 pages).

The whole of England excluding Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex

Following a change in the risk levels and an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in kept and wild birds, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) declarationacross for the whole of England (excluding Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex) to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.

This means that from midday on Monday 17 October, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the rest of England to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu. The existing AIPZ with mandatory housing continues to apply in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex

Details of the conditions and a map of the zone can be found in the declaration.

.

Declaration of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (England excluding Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex)

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Regional AvianThis revokes and replaces the regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) includingthat housingwas measuresdeclared declarationin Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly and part of Somerset on 31 August 2022. There is now a legal requirement for Norfolk,all bird keepers to implement enhanced biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

Declaration of Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (England - Declaration of regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (England - Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly and part of Somerset)) (PDF, 740 KB, 7 pages)

Biosecurity self-assessment checklist

This file is in an OpenDocument format

AIPZ GB wide with mandatory housing (Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex)

Biosecurity guidance: GB wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zones, and AIPZ with housing measures in Norfolk, Suffolk, and parts of Essex.

For

This furtherfile detailsmay in:not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

  • Wales