Bird flu – latest media updates: all poultry and captive birds to be housed until further notice

Current situation

AllThe threat of avian influenza (‘bird flu’) to poultry and other captive birds continues and the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) including mustmandatory behousing housedmeasures remain in Englandforce across England.

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The UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 250320 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021. Find out more about the latest bird flu situation in England and guidance for bird keepers and the public.

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The wild bird cases,risk fromacross Great Britain remains very high and the coast.risk to poultry with stringent biosecurity remains at medium. The risk to poultry with poor biosecurity is also considered high. All bird keepers must now follow enhanced measures at all times to prevent the risk of future outbreaks.

Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, said:

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We’re taking action already by implementing a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zones and mandatory housing order,measures, but it is important that all bird keepers – wherever they are in the country – ensure that cleanliness and hygiene are at the forefront of their minds to keep their flocks safe and limit the impact of the outbreak.

PublicThe healthUKHSA adviceadvise remains that the riskavailable toevidence humansuggests healthviruses fromcurrently circulating in birds in the virusUK isdo verynot lowspread easily to people and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

Do not touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that you find and instead report them using the new online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline.

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.

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.

Egg labelling

Egg labelling changes have been introduced for poultry that have had to be housed due to avian influenza.

From Wednesday 1 February, eggs originating from free range flocks in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex will need to be labelled as barn eggs. This will apply to the rest of England from the 27th February. This in line with Egg Marketing Standards Regulations. The commencement date marks the end of the 16-week grace period given after the introduction of a regional AIPZ with housing (12 October 2022) and subsequent England-wide mandatory housing order (7 November 2022).

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.

It is a legal requirement for bird keepers in the national AIPZ to follow biosecurity measures.

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

• housing or netting all poultry and captive birds
• cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
• reduce 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
• keep records of mortality, movement of poultry and poultry products and any changes in production
• thoroughly clean and disinfect 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
• prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas

See our biosecurity advice for more information.

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of avian influenza 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.

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, go to the avian influenza: cases and disease control zones in England guidance.

Bird keepers can check what zone they are in on our interactive map.

Wild birds

The 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 report online or call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you find:

• one1 or more dead bird of preyprey, orgull, owlswan, (suchgoose asor anduck owl,in hawkthe orsame buzzard)place
• 35 or more dead wild birds thatof includeany atother leastspecies onein gull,the swan,same goose or duckplace
• 5 or more dead birds of any species

APHA then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and 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 go to our our guidance on reporting dead wild birds.

For further details see the report (updated weekly) of of findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain.

Sick or injured wild birds should not be reported to the Defra Helpline. Instead sick birds should be reported in England and Wales to the RSPCA (0300 1234 999) and in Scotland to the SSPCA (03000 999 999) who dependent on the situation may be able to offer assistance.