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Bird Flu Updates

New Cases in England

Further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed as follows:

  • in commercial poultry near Claydon, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk;
  • a second premises near Swaffham, Breckland, Norfolk;
  • in commercial poultry near Gainsborough, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire;
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Dalton-in-Furness, Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria;
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Mundford, Breckland, Norfolk;
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Lydd, Folkstone and Hythe, Kent.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around each premises. See GOV.UK for full details. 

Mandatory Housing Measures

Due to the escalating number and expanding area of cases of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, the AIPZ with mandatory housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds has been extended to the whole of England and Wales for all keepers of over 50 birds. 

All keepers of over 50 birds in England and Wales must house their birds and continue to follow stringent biosecurity measures. The AIPZ requiring mandatory biosecurity measures remains in place across Britain. Please check GOV.UK for the latest information. Please also check the disease control zones on the avian influenza interactive map to see what restrictions are in place.

Interactive Map

Keepers can check if they are in a bird flu disease control zone using the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map. Further information on the measures that apply in the zones can be found in Defra’s Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England guidance and the zone declaration available via the notifiable disease case finder. Disease control zones will remain in place until all disease control and surveillance activities in the zones have been successfully completed and there are no suspect cases are under investigation in the zones.

Keepers must keep a close watch on their birds and kept mammals (including pets) for any signs of disease, and seek prompt advice from a vet if they have any concerns. You can find further information on how to spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds and how to keep other pets, such as cats and dogs, safe from bird flu.

Clinical signs indicative of infection with an avian influenza virus must be reported in England to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact to the local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

All bird keepers must register their poultry and other captive birds (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines), even if only kept as pets. Registered keepers will receive regular updates and guidance to help protect their birds from avian influenza. In addition, anyone can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service for the latest information on updated risk levels, guidance and new cases in Great Britain regardless of whether they keep birds.

In Great Britain members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping Defra and APHA understand, the risk to different species groups of wild birds, the risk posed to poultry & other captive birds and the risk of overspill into mammals.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Do not touch any dead or sick wild birds you find. The Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The latest information and guidance on bird flu can be found at gov.uk/birdflu 

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19/11/25: New Cases in England and Wales

Further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed as follows:

  • a fourth premises near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire;
  • a small backyard flock of poultry near Lawshall, Babergh, Suffolk;
  • in commercial poultry near Driffield, Bridlington and the Wolds, East Riding of Yorkshire.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around each premises.

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17/11/25: New Cases in England and Wales

Further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed as follows:

  • at a premises near Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire;
  • in a small group of ornamental captive birds near Dawlish, Teignbridge, Devon;
  • in a small backyard flock of captive birds near Watton, Breckland, Norfolk;
  • in a large commercial poultry premises near Swaffham, Breckland, Norfolk;
  • at a large commercial poultry premises near Thorne, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. 

The appropriate zones are in place around each premises.

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14/11/25: New Cases in England and Scotland

Further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed as follows:

  • at a large commercial poultry premises near Woodbridge, East Suffolk, Suffolk.
  • at a large commercial poultry premises near Lanark, Lanarkshire.
  • at a small backyard flock of captive birds near Gosforth, Cumberland, Cumbria.
  • at a large commercial poultry premises near Poringland, South Norfolk, Norfolk. 

The appropriate zones are in place around each premises.

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12/11/25: New Cases in England and Wales

Further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone are in place around each premises:

  • a premises near Welshpool, Powys
  • in commercial poultry near Hallow, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Feltwell, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk
  • a large commercial poultry premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
  • a second large commercial poultry premises near Thirsk, Thirsk and Malton, North Yorkshire

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07/11/25: Mandatory Housing Measures

Due to the escalating number and expanding area of cases of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, the AIPZ with mandatory housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds has been extended to the whole of England for all keepers of over 50 birds. 

All keepers of over 50 birds in England must house their birds and continue to follow stringent biosecurity measures. The AIPZ requiring mandatory biosecurity measures remains in place across Britain. Please check GOV.UK for the latest information. Please also check the disease control zones on the avian influenza interactive map to see what restrictions are in place.

New Cases in England and Wales

Two further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed. Various restrictions are now in place around these premises. Follow the links for further information about the following cases:

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05/11/25: New Cases in England

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at the following sites:

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around each premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds near Danehill, Wealden, East Sussex (AIV 2025/83). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared around the premises. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled.

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03/11/25: New Cases in England and Wales

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been confirmed at the following premises:

A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around each of the premises.

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31/10/25: Housing Measures

In response to increased findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds and new cases in poultry and kept birds, coupled with heightened risk levels, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with housing measures is being introduced for north, central and parts of east of England to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease.

The affected counties and unitary authorities include Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Tyne & Wear, West Yorkshire.

The new housing measures do not apply to hobby keepers, only to keepers who have more than 50 birds, and those that sell or give away eggs or poultry products, due to the increased biosecurity risk that comes with trading these products, such as vehicle movements.  These keepers must keep their birds housed to protect them from avian influenza.

The declaration took effect from 00:01 on 30 October 2025. Further details can be found on the gov.uk website.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity also remains in force across the entirety of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of outbreaks of the disease. Additional control measures also apply in disease control zones in force surrounding premises where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds.

[Individual case updates before this date have been removed to keep the length of this article down]

 

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