Guidance

Avian influenza (bird flu): advice for the public to reduce the risk of catching avian influenza

Updated 19 November 2025

Avian influenza (bird flu) is an infectious disease that primarily affects birds, caused by the influenza A virus. Some birds will not show signs of avian influenza infection, so it is not always possible to know if birds are infected with, or have died from, avian influenza.

People can sometimes catch avian influenza from birds through close contact with infected birds, their feathers or poo, or other things that the infected bird has touched or been in, such as ponds, nest sites or feeding areas. Avian influenza infection in people is rare but can be very serious in some cases.

This guidance is for members of the public. People whose work involves regular contact with kept or wild birds or their environment should follow Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on working with poultry that is suspected of having avian influenza.

For the health and welfare of the birds you should keep your distance from wild birds as much as possible. Wherever possible, you should not touch or handle wild birds.

If you feel you cannot avoid touching an injured, sick, or dead garden bird, then you should read and follow this guidance to reduce the risk of catching avian influenza.

What to do if you find a dead wild bird

If you find dead wild birds you can report them to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) using Defra’s online reporting service or by calling the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) understand the risk to different species groups of wild birds, the risk posed to poultry and other captive birds and the risk of overspill into wild mammals. You will also be supporting the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in assessing any potential risk to humans. Reports are triaged and not all birds will be collected.

More information on how Defra and APHA monitor avian influenza virus infection in wild birds and wild mammals can be found in the guidance at Avian influenza (bird flu): infection in wild birds and wild mammals.

Find out more about disposing of dead wild birds not required for surveillance in Defra’s Removing and disposing of dead wild birds. This includes guidance on how to reduce risks when disposing of small numbers of dead garden birds found at your home.

Contact with live or dead garden birds at your home

There are many reasons why wild birds die or appear to be sick, and not every dead or sick wild bird will be infected with avian influenza. Some birds will not show signs of avian influenza infection, so it is not always possible to know if birds are infected with, or have died from, avian influenza.

Avian influenza is not often found in small garden birds (for example, blackbirds, magpies, tits, finches, collared doves, woodpigeons, robins).

If you cannot avoid touching a dead or sick garden bird at your home or other residential property, to reduce your risk of catching avian influenza, you should:

• cover your skin with long clothing (for example, trousers and long sleeves) to prevent scratches or pecks
• wear gloves and disposable gloves on top or a plastic bag over your hand
• if possible, wear a surgical face mask, which should be disposed of after use
• hold the bird as far away from your face as possible
• keep the bird outside – do not bring it into your house or an enclosed space
• use household cleaning disposable wipes to clean any surfaces that the bird touched or may have touched
• wash any clothes that you were wearing when you touched the bird
• throw away any disposable items that touched the bird (such as gloves or wipes) by putting them in a bag, then put this tied bag in a second (preferably leak-proof) plastic bag, then seal or tie up the plastic bag and put it in your outdoor bin
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you touch the bird, faeces, feathers, nests or other potentially contaminated items

If you want to take the bird to a vet or animal welfare organisation or similar, you must phone ahead and follow their instructions. This is essential to protect any other birds or other animals that may be present at the practice or rehabilitation centre. In some instances, the best option for the welfare of the bird may be euthanasia. This must be done humanely, and the services of a veterinary professional will be needed.

If you are told that a wild bird that you touched may have avian influenza

If you are told by a healthcare or animal health professional that a bird you have been in contact with may have avian influenza, contact your local health protection team for further advice. This might happen if the bird is tested for avian influenza by APHA or if the bird is from an area where there is a heightened risk of avian influenza, such as:

• in disease control zones in force surrounding premises where avian influenza has been detected in poultry or other captive birds (the location of these zones can be viewed on APHA’s interactive disease control and prevention zone map)
• if avian influenza has been detected recently in wild birds in the area (the location of reported wild bird mortality and findings of avian influenza virus in wild birds and wild mammals can be viewed on APHA’s interactive map and interactive data dashboard)