Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

11 Feb

09 February 2025

Latest situation

From midday on Monday 10 February 2025 bird gatherings of poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds are banned in England. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl.

Gatherings of other captive birds will continue to be permitted, providing you follow and meet all the requirements of the captive bird gathering general licence.

Find out what counts as a bird gathering.

Take action to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading. Be vigilant for signs of disease and report it to keep your birds safe.

9 February 2025

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at premises near:

Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside (AIV 2025/16)
Bodmin, North Cornwall, Cornwall (AIV 2025/17)

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

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Rye, Rother, East Sussex (AIV 2025/03), the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed the protection zone becomes a surveillance zone.

8 February 2025

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a second premises near Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/15).

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

7 February 2025

Following official testing at the premises, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a third premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/14). All affected poultry on the premises are being humanely culled.

A 3km protection Zone and a 10km surveillance Zone have been put in place surrounding the premises.

Check if you’re in a bird flu disease zone on the map.

If you’re in a bird flu disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone and check if you need a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals.

Practising good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of your birds and for commercial keepers will help protect your business from HPAI and other diseases.

Find out what you can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading and how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds.

Avian influenza prevention zones – how you’re affected

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) are increasing in both kept poultry and wild birds across multiple areas of Great Britain.

To prevent further spread of disease, we have extended the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) which was in place across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

The measures imposed in the AIPZ, which include mandatory enhanced biosecurity and housing for kept birds, now includes Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.

The rest of England is now under an additional AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity but will not enforce mandatory housing. A similar zone is in force in Scotland and Wales .

To find out which measures apply to you and your kept birds, check the interactive map and read the AIPZ declaration schedule relevant to your area.

These measures will be in place until further notice. They will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza.

These measures apply to all bird keepers whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in your garden and are essential to protect your birds from avian influenza.

All bird flu cases and disease control zones

The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 of the current outbreak was confirmed in England on the 5 November 2024.

The first case of HPAI H5N1 of the current outbreak was confirmed in:

England on 17 November 2024
Scotland on 10 January 2025

Whilst there have been no cases of HPAI confirmed in Wales during this outbreak, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules Great Britain is no longer free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

No cases of HPAI have been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season and Northern Ireland continues to have WOAH self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Find details of all bird flu cases and disease zones in England.

The table below lists the number of confirmed cases of HPAI during the current outbreak.

CountryHPAI H5N5HPAI H5N1England131Scotland01Wales00Northern Ireland00

The last outbreak of HPAI in poultry and other captive birds in the UK prior to the outbreak on 5 November 2024 occurred on 14 February 2024.

Find details of previous bird flu cases and disease zones in England.

Find details of previous bird flu cases in Scotland, cases in Wales and cases in Northern Ireland.

Find details and assessments of past outbreaks in Great Britain in the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s outbreak epidemiology reports.

Bird flu guidance

Find out how to:

Find out when game birds are kept or wild and the rules you need to follow if you keep, release or catch them up.

You can read guidance about:

Bird gatherings

Gatherings of all types of poultry and other captive birds including gatherings of anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans) are currently permitted. You need to follow the requirements of the poultry gathering general licence and notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at least 7 days before the event.

You can read the updated risk assessment on the likelihood of spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 associated with bird fairs, shows, markets, sales and other gatherings.

Vaccines

You cannot vaccinate poultry or most captive birds against bird flu in England.

You can only vaccinate zoo birds in England if you meet eligibility criteria and get authorisation from APHA. Only zoos or collections holding a current zoo licence can apply for vaccination.

Defra continues to invest in bird flu research and monitors the situation globally.

We work with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to monitor the development of vaccines for birds.

Find out more information on avian influenza (bird flu) vaccination and the work of the avian influenza vaccination taskforce.

Latest GOV.UK news stories

Housing measures introduced in parts of Yorkshire and the East to protect poultry and other captive birds

Risk levels and outbreak assessments

The risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain is assessed as very high (event occurs almost certainly).

The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 in Great Britain is assessed as:

high (event occurs very often) (with medium uncertainty) where there is suboptimal or poor biosecurity
medium (event occurs regularly) (with medium uncertainty) where good biosecurity is consistently applied at all times

Find details of the evidence that supported these decisions in the:

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advise that bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Wild birds

Find out how to report dead wild birds.

Defra has set out practical information to support land managers, the public and ornithological and environmental organisations in their response to the growing threat of bird flu.

The mitigation strategy for avian influenza in wild birds in England and Walesexplains how these groups, together with the government and its delivery partners, can reduce the impact on wild bird populations whilst protecting public health, the wider environment and the rural economy.

Landowners, local authorities and other organisations can download and print bird flu posters to display on site when there is a risk of bird flu or if bird flu has been detected in the area.

Check the:

You can find out more about:

Feeding wild birds

You can feed wild birds but always wash your hands with soap and water afterwards. Avoid areas that have premises where poultry or captive birds are kept. Wild birds can spread bird flu to captive birds.

If you’re in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) you cannot feed wild gamebirds within 500m of a premises with more than 500 poultry or captive birds. Check if you’re in a zone on the bird flu zone map and find out more in the guidance on rules if you keep game birds.

If you feed wild birds in your garden, read advice from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to keep feeders and water baths clean. This will help to stop bird flu and other diseases spreading between different birds.

The UK Health Security Agency has said that the risk to the public from this bird flu strain is very low. It mainly affects birds.

Do not touch or move any dead or sick wild birds – find out how to report them.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you touch wild bird faeces or feathers. For more advice go to the NHS website.

Mammals

Avian influenza (bird flu) viruses can also infect wild and kept mammals. This is known as influenza of avian origin.

Find out how we monitor the risk of influenza of avian origin in wild mammals.

Check the:

Influenza of avian origin in mammals is notifiable in both wild and kept mammals.

You must report it immediately if you examine or inspect any wild or kept mammal, or analyse samples from any wild or kept mammal or mammal carcase and:

suspect the presence of influenza of avian origin
detect evidence of influenza A virus or antibodies to influenza A virus

Report it immediately by calling:

03000 200 301 if you’re in England
03003 038 268 if you’re in Wales
your local Field Services Office if you’re in Scotland

If you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

Bird flu webinars

Whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, the avian influenza ‘stop the spread’ webinars explain what you can do to protect your birds.

Defra policies and contingency plans

Defra controls cases of bird flu by following the:

Bird flu legislation

The legislation in England includes:

For Scotland go to the Scottish Government website.

For Wales go to the Welsh Government website.

For Northern Ireland go to the DAERA-NI website.

Image on this page shows a group of ducks flying. Credit: Jari Hytönen.

Hawk Board