Defra - Avian Influenza Latest Situation
11 March 2025
Avian Influenza Vaccination Task Force – Interim Statement
The vaccination of poultry and captive birds against avian influenza, excluding those in licensed zoos in England, is not currently permitted.
While avian influenza vaccination will not be a viable option for the 2024/25 high risk season, Defra have established a cross government and industry task force to explore potential for use of vaccination as a preventive measure for avian influenza. Further information on this group can be found at Bird flu (avian influenza) vaccination task force - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The avian influenza vaccination taskforce published an interim statement on 7 March 2025, and is due to publish their initial report in Summer 2025
New Cases in England
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Kington, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2025/26). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared around the premises (effective from 17:30 on 4 March 2025). Part of the protection zone and part of the surveillance extends into Wales, a protection zone and surveillance zone have been declared by the Welsh Government for the relevant areas of Wales. All poultry on the premises have been humanely culled
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Thirsk, Thirsk and Malton, North Yorkshire (AIV 2025/27). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises (effective from 18:00 on 6 March 2025). All poultry on the premises have been humanely culled.
Case Updates in England
Following successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zones surrounding the following premises the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed it becomes a surveillance zone surrounding each of the premises:
second premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/09) (effective from 19:30 on 28 February 2025)
third premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/14) (effective from 18:00 on 6 March 2025)
premises near Bodmin, North Cornwall, Cornwall (AIV 2025/17) (effective from 14:30 on 7 March 2025)
premises near Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/13) (effective from 14:30 on 9 March 2025)
second premises near Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/15) (effective from 14:30 on 9 March 2025)
premises near Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside (AIV 2025/16) (effective from 16:30 on 9 March 2025)
Following the successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone surrounding the following premises the 10km surveillance zone surrounding each premises has been revoked
premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/02) (effective from 14:00 on 27 February 2025)
premises near Mablethorpe, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/04) (effective from 17:30 on 3 March 2025)
premises near Alford, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/08) (effective from 17:25 on 3 March 2025)
premises near Skegness, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/10) (effective from 17:35 on 3 March 2025)
premises near Loddon, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2025/12 formerly AIV SOS 2025/01) (effective from 17:30 on 4 March 2025)
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Snettisham, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2025/18), the 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been revoked (effective from 16:45 on 11 March 2025)
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All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect their birds following the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity are in force across the UK (separate AIPZs are declared in each administration). In addition, mandatory housing for kept birds is in force in England across the unitary authorities of the East Riding of Yorkshire, the unitary authority of York, the City of Kingston upon Hull and all districts in Cheshire, Herefordshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Shropshire Suffolk and Worcestershire and all areas of Northern Ireland to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.
Keepers can check if they are in an avian influenza disease control or prevention zone in GB using the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map and in Northern Ireland using DAERA’s interactive map
Further information on the measures that apply in disease control zones can be found in Defra’s Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England - GOV.UK guidance and the zone declarations available via the notifiable disease case finder on gov.uk.
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.
Details of the current national risk levels for avian influenza can be found at gov.uk/birdflu with further information on the evidence which supports these levels available in APHA’s risk and outbreak assessments.
Practicing good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of birds and for commercial keepers will help protect their business from HPAI and other diseases.
For further information on the latest situation and guidance including on what bird keepers can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading, how to house birds to protect their health and welfare during outbreaks, and how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds see gov.uk/birdflu