News story

Bird flu – Latest situation: Chief Vet lifts Prevention Zone

All bird keepers should continue good biosecurity practice and be vigilant for signs of disease to keep their birds safe from avian influenza.

Current situation

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for poultry and captive birds, introduced to help stop the spread of avian influenza (‘bird flu’), has been lifted.

The enhanced biosecurity measures were brought in across Great Britain in October when there was a medium risk for some poultry premises. The measures have been vital in protecting flocks across the country from the virus which is circulating in wild birds.

The risk of avian influenza has now reduced to low for all poultry. As a result, the mandatory requirements were lifted from 4 July 12pm. The risk has reduced but as we have seen with recent premises confirmations, it has not gone away.

The scale of avian influenza outbreaks across the UK and Europe have been unprecedented with cases being confirmed into the second year of an outbreak for the first time.  The UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 330 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.

The prevention measures introduced through the AIPZ including housing measures are introduced in a phased and escalating manner proportionate to the escalating risk to an area and may be introduced or withdrawn on a regional or national basis depending on the epidemiological situation.

All bird keepers must follow enhanced measures at all times to prevent the risk of future outbreaks and remain vigilant for signs of disease.

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

“Now we are in the summer months and the risk to poultry across Great Britain has reduced, it is the right time to lift the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.

“This would not have been possible without the hard work of all bird keepers, who have upheld high biosecurity standards for many months. However, there are still localised areas of risk as we have seen recently, and therefore it’s vital that everyone keeps biosecurity and cleanliness at the forefront of their minds to keep their flocks safe.”

From 23 August 2023 gatherings of Galliforme poultry and Galliforme birds including gatherings of chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridge, quail and guinea fowl are permitted in England provided you follow the requirements of the general licence and that the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has been notified of the gathering at least 7 days before the event.

Gatherings of Anseriforme poultry and Anseriforme birds including ducks, geese and swans are not permitted.

These changes only apply to gatherings of Galliforme poultry and Galliforme birds held in England only. Galliforme birds from premises located in Wales and Scotland are not permitted to attend Galliforme gatherings in England.

The UKHSA advise that the available evidence suggests viruses currently circulating in birds in the UK do not spread 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.

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

Although the risk to poultry has declined, the risk in wild birds remains high and 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.

All bird keepers (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:

  • cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
  • reducing 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 cleansing and disinfecting 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.

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 if you find:

  • 1 or more dead bird of prey, swan, goose or duck in the same place
  • 5 or more dead gulls or wild birds of any other species in the same place

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 guidance on reporting dead wild birds.

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

Sick or injured wild birds should not be reported to the Defra Helpline. You can report sick or injured birds of prey, gulls, swans, geese or ducks in England and Wales to the RSPCA (0300 1234 999) and in Scotland to the SSPCA (03000 999 999).

The RSPCA website carries information on what to do if you find a wild bird from a smaller species.

Published 3 November 2021
Last updated 22 August 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated to reflect that some bird gatherings In England may resume from 23 August.

  2. Updated to reflect the lifting of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.

  3. Updated to reflect that the housing measures have now been lifted.

  4. Updated to confirm housing measures for poultry and captive birds will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023

  5. Updated to reflect the latest bird flu situation.

  6. Updated to reflect the launch of a new online system for reporting dead wild birds

  7. Updated to reflect housing measures coming into force today.

  8. News story updated to reflect latest announcement around housing measures.

  9. Updated to reflect the introduction of a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.

  10. Updated to reflect the new housing measures in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex.

  11. Updated to reflect the introduction of a AIPZ in Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex.

  12. The page has been updated to reflect the introduction of a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset.

  13. The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for poultry and captive birds, introduced to help stop the spread of avian influenza (‘bird flu’), will be lifted at midday Tuesday 16 August.

  14. Updated to reflect that the housing measures have now been lifted.

  15. Updated to confirm housing measures for poultry and captive birds will be lifted from 00:01 on Monday 2 May 2022

  16. Updated to reflect current situation

  17. Updated to reflect the latest advice from the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer

  18. Updated list of confirmed cases

  19. Updated to include latest confirmed cases.

  20. Updated list of confirmed cases.

  21. Updated list of confirmed cases.

  22. Confirming two new cases at premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

  23. Latest figures updated.

  24. Updated the page with the latest cases and removed an outdated sentence.

  25. Updated confirmed lists.

  26. Updated list of confirmed cases.

  27. Updated list of confirmed cases

  28. Number of cases updated.

  29. An increase in case numbers from 25 to 28 has been confirmed.

  30. Added the following new cases: H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (6th premises) on 2 December. H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Tutbury, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire on 2 December. H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Leominster, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire on 2 December.

  31. Updated from 20 cases currently confirmed in England to 21 cases currently confirmed in England.

  32. Updated from 19 cases currently confirmed in England to 20 cases currently confirmed in England.

  33. Confirmed new case at a premises near Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Lancashire and at a third premises in Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire.

  34. Updated the pathogenicity for the Leicestershire case on 25 November. Also confirmed two additional cases in North Yorkshire and Lancashire.

  35. Confirmed pathogenicity for remaining cases and added a new case in Leicestershire.

  36. Updated to confirm that new housing measures have been introduced to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza.

  37. Updated to include two further cases confirmed in North Yorkshire overnight.

  38. Added reference to the localised avian influenza prevention zone in parts of North Yorkshire.

  39. Additional cases confirmed

  40. updated list of cases

  41. updated list of cases

  42. Updated to include a new case confirmed near Mouldsworth, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire.

  43. Edited H5N1 in Poole bullet point: "pathogenicity to be confirmed" has been changed to "highly pathogenic" Added paragraph and sub-heading on the banning of gatherings of poultry, including bird gatherings guidance

  44. Updated to include a new case confirmed in Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

  45. Updated to include a new case confirmed in South Derbyshire.

  46. Updated to include a new case of H5N1 avian influenza at a premises near Kirkham in Lancashire

  47. Updated to include list of cases in England

  48. First published.