Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5) is currently circulating in Europe, with outbreaks of disease in many countries. An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared across the whole of Great Britain. AIPZ with additional housing measures in North Yorkshire (Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire Districts) was declared at 2030h 21 November 2021. On 29 November housing measures, will come into force, meaning that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease. On 2 May 2022, poultry and other captive birds are no longer required to be housed, unless they are in a Protection Zone or are under licence, or other restrictions, that require birds to be housed.
The APHA Interactive Disease Map of outbreaks in Great Britain at the bottom of this page highlights control zones and higher risk areas in the event of a confirmed case of notifiable Avian Influenza (AI). On the 3rd November 2021 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was found at a premises in the Angus constituency, Scotland. HPAI H5N1 was identified in wild birds, Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) carcases in two events: 20 July 2021 Fair Isle (Shetland, Scotland) and 27 July 2021 on the Flannan Isles (Outer Hebrides, Scotland). These relate to discrete localised infections within a single colonial species in summer and not therefore representative necessarily of the whole UK level situation at the present time. Avian Influenza (strain and pathogenicity to be confirmed) was identified in Kirkcaldy, Fife (unspecified gull, collected on 14 October 2021) Leith, Edinburgh (mute swan, collected on 23 October 2021).
If you suspect a notifiable animal disease 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.
Great Britain: Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ): An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of Great Britain as of 5pm on 3 November 2021. It introduces strict biosecurity measures for all bird keepers (including those who keep pet birds) to help prevent the spread of avian influenza from wild birds or any other source. The decision to implement this zone follows a risk assessment containing the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice.
Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to:
restrict access for non-essential personnel on their sites
ensure workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures
clean and disinfect site vehicles regularly to limit the risk of disease spreading
Keepers of more than 50 poultry or other captive birds will need to:
Place foot dip containing authorised disinfectant at entry/exit points where birds are kept ensuring that any person entering and exiting that part of the premises disinfect footwear.
Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese need to:
Take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals.
Additional measures apply to keepers of poultry or other captive birds with outdoor range areas.
On 21 November 2021 2030h Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with additional housing measures in North Yorkshire (Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire Districts) was declared. Poultry and other captive birds are required to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.
From 2 May 2022 poultry and other captive birds are no longer required to be housed, unless:
in a Protection Zone
under licence
other restrictions, that require birds to be house
APHA advice encourages keepers to disinfect hard surfaces, fence off ponds or standing water and reintroduce wild bird deterrents.
Markets, shows and other gatherings of kept galliformes (chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails and other land fowl) and of kept Anseriformes, (ducks, geese, swans and other water fowl) are prohibited following an amendment to the Scottish General Bird Gathering License (8 November 2021).
The public have also been asked to report any observations of wild bird deaths, especially those involving 5 or more birds of any species, and also where a single dead wild duck, goose, swan or gull is found (Defra helpline 03459 33 55 77). Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find.
EPIC scientists are working closely with Scottish Government to assist with contingency plans for Avian Influenza and other diseases. In particular, EPIC scientists are working on producing rapid risk assessments. Please visit our page on Avian Influenza to see our latest research.
Poultry and Wild Bird Avian Influenza Maps (updated poultry 27/03/2022 and wild birds 27/03/2022)
Interactive Map
Figure 1. Interactive map of HPAI H5 findings in poultry (blue markers) and wild birds (red markers) in the UK, overlayed by a county shapefile. Controls in the upper right corner allow to selectively switch on or off what is displayed. Wild bird findings (red) will display which species has been affected when hovering over the marker. Marker of poultry findings display location information when hovering over the marker. Note that cases (both in poultry and wild birds) will be clustered (coloured circles, indicating number of findings) if they are spatially located near each other (the warmer the colour of the circle, the more findings are near each other). Clicking on a cluster will ‘uncluster’ the findings into separate markers. View map maximized in new browser tab.
APHA Interactive Disease Map including higher risk areas (select layers)
Summary of HPAI H5 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scotland
06 July 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Birsay, Orkney Islands. A 3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared.
30 May 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises on the Island of Whalsay, Shetland Islands. A 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) has been declared.
19 March 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Strichen, Aberdeenshire. A 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared.
18 March 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx was confirmed at a premises near Beith, North Ayrshire. A 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared.
10 March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Collieston, Aberdeenshire. A 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) has been declared.
22 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. This premises was deemed a “special category premises” due to its non-commercial nature. As a result of this, and based on a veterinary risk assessment, no new disease control zones were applied.
10 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Moffat, Dumfriesshire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones are now in place.
9 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Annan, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones are now in place.
21 July 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Dartington, South Hams, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises.
21 June 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds (non-poultry) at a premises near Guestling Green, Rother, East Sussex. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises.
15 June 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in non-commercial poultry at a premises near Bexhill-on-Sea, Rother, East Sussex. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises.
7 June 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a second premises near Ludlow, Ludlow, Shropshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has replaced the 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones put in place around the premises on 6 June 2022.
6 June: Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been confirmed at a premises near Ludlow, Ludlow, Shropshire. A 3km Temporary Control Zone and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place around the premises.
19 May 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed on in poultry at a premises near Southwell, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises.
7 May 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Lowdham, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises.
22 April 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Ilkeston, Erewash, Derbyshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the premises.
13 April 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at asecond premises near Tedburn St Mary, Teignbridge, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
8 April 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Ilminster, South Somerset, Somerset. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around each of the premises.
8 April 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near near Eye, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around each of the premises.
6 April 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Ely, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone was put in place around the premises.
6 April: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Newton St Cyres, Mid Devon, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone was put in place around the premises.
6 April: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was suspected in birds at a premises near Tedburn St Mary, Teinbridge, Devon. A 3km Temporary Control Zone and 10km Temporary Control Zone was put in place around the premises.
30 March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a third premises near Woodbridge, East Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
19th March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Woodbridge, East Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
12 March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Market Weston, West Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
11 March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a second premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
1 March 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Redgrave, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
26 February 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Elmswell, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
25 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Ledbury, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
23 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial other captive birds (non-poultry) at premises near Blaydon, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
21 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was suspected in commercial poultry at a premises near Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place around the premises.
14 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds at a premises near Wooler, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland. Following a risk assessment, a 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place surrounding the premises.
9 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at premises near Holy Island, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
5 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds (non-poultry) at a premises near Fakenham, North Norfolk, Norfolk. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises.
4 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at premises near Bishop’s Waltham, Winchester, Hampshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
28 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at premises near Ashleworth, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
28 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Calveley, Cheshire East, Cheshire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises.
26 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at premises near Whitby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises.
25 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at premises near Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
22 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 at a commercial poultry premises near Crewe, Cheshire East, Cheshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
20 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Ross-on-Wye, Hereford and South Herefordshire, Herefordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
13 January 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed at a second premises near Tattenhall, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
13 January 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed at a premises near Tattenhall, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
10 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was suspected in commercial poultry at a premisesnear Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
7 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a non-commercial premisesnear Upholland, West Lancashire, Lancashire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
5 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premisesnear North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
5 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
4 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in kept birds Lazonby, Eden, Cumbria. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
3 January 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in kept birds at a tenth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
31 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
31 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in non-commercial birds at a premises near Mablethorpe, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
30 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a non-commercial flock of birds at a premises near Romsey, Test Valley, Hampshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
28 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Watlington, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
28 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
22 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in non-commercial birds at a second premises near Helsby, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
22 December: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds (non-poultry) at a premises near Buckfastleigh, Teignbridge, Devon. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises.
18 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a ninth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
18 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Helsby, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
17 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at an eighth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
16 December: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a sixth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
16 December: Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in poultry and other captive birds at a premises near Market Bosworth, Hinckley and Bosworth. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
15 December: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry near Wem, North Shropshire, Shropshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
14 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, Durham. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
12 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a third premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
12 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a second premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
11 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
10 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Clifford, Hereford and South Herefordshire, Herefordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
10 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
10 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Washington, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
9 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Aspatria, Allerdale, Cumbria. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
8 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a eighth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
8 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Sudbury, Babergh, South Suffolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
7 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Pocklington, East Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
7 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a fourth premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire, England. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
6 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a third premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
5 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a seventh premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
5 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Newent, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
3 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Richmond, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
2 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Leominster, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
2 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Tutbury, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
2 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a sixth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
30 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a second premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises
26 November: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a fourth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
26 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Lancashire. Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
25 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been found at a premises near Poulton le Flyde, Wyre, Lancashire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around each of the premises.
25 November 2021: Highly pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been found at a premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around each of the premises.
21 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises. Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with additional housing measures in North Yorkshire (Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire Districts) was declared at 2030h 21 November 2021.
21 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Wells-next-the-sea, North Norfolk, Norfolk. Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises.
21 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near North Fambridge, Maldon, Essex. 21 November 2021. Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises.
20 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Mouldsworth, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises.
19 November: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Silecroft, Copeland, Cumbria. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises.
19 November: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in birds at a premises near Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. . 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the premises.
17 November: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in birds at a premises near Willington, South Derbyshire, Derbyshire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises.
16 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in birds at a premises near Kirkham, Fylde, Lancashire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises
13 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Leeming Bar, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises
12 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Salwick, Fylde, Lancashire, England. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises.
11 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in birds at a premises near Frinton-on-Sea, Tendring, Essex, England. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises.
7 November 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in a small poultry unit at a premises near Alcester, Bidford, Warwickshire. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared.
26 October 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a rescue centre near Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire. Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. A 3km Protection and a 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises.
Wales
21 February, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) was confirmed at a premises near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Powys. A 3km Protection Zone,10km Surveillance Zone and 10km Restricted Zone have been put in place around the infected premises.
21 February 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Powys. This premises is in Wales, however, disease control zones put in place surrounding the premises crossed the border into England.
15 December: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry near Wem, North Shropshire, Shropshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises including part of Wales.
10 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises near Clifford, Hereford and South Herefordshire, Herefordshire. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the premises including part of Wales.
3 Decemberr 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks at a premises near Crickhowell, Powys, Wales. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared.
25 November 2021: A case of Avian Influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) was confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks at a premises near Gaerwen, Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared.
1 November 2021: A case of H5N1 Avian Influenza (pathogenicity to be confirmed) was confirmed at a premises near Chirk, Wrexham, Wales. Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the infected premises. A small area of the 3km Zone A and part of the10km Zone B of the Temporary Control Zone extends into England and equivalent zones have been declared by Defra for these areas in England.
22 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a poultry flock in Ballinderry, County Londonderry. A 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) was declared around the infected premise.
11 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in premises in Coagh, County Tyrone. As a result, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have declared a 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and a 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) around the infected premises.
9 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in premises close to the border between County Cavan and County Fermanagh. As a result, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have declared a 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and a 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) around the infected premises.
7 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises premises in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises.
7 December 2021: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in birds at a premises premises in Broughshane, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place surrounding the premises.
3 December: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in premises close to the border between Monaghan and Armagh. As a result the Disease Control Zones which were put in place by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have been formally replaced with a 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and a 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ).
30 November 2021: Suspect case of notifiable Avian Influenza (AI) found in commercial duck premises in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared.
Scottish Government Avian Influenza information poster for poultry keepers
FAQ smallholder and poultry keepers
25 November 2021: Avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been found at a third premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around each of the premises
25 November 2021: Avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been found at a premises near Poulton le Flyde, Wyre, Lancashire. Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around each of the premises.
25 November 2021: Avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been found at a premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire. Further testing is underway to confirm the pathogenicity of the strain. 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around each of the premises.
Poultry keepers with flocks of 50 or more birds are required to register their flock with the APHA. In the event of a disease outbreak neighbouring ‘at risk’ flocks can therefore be identified. These flocks would fall into a movement restriction or surveillance zone set up following the identification of an infected premise. All poultry keepers are encouraged to voluntarily register their flock, no matter how small, with the APHAto enable the tracing and monitoring of ‘at risk’ premises in the event of an outbreak.
In collaboration with the RESAS strategic programme EPIC undertook research into backyard and small-holder poultry keepers. By speaking to individuals and exploring the reasons why people have poultry, their interactions with other poultry keepers and their concerns about disease risks researchers are developing a better understanding of poultry keepers attitudes to biosecurity. The 2018 report Understanding Backyard Poultry Keepers and their Attitudes to Biosecurity: Final Report highlights a breadth of attitudes and approaches to poultry keeping in Scotland.
Against a backdrop of an increased risk that wild birds may be arriving in the UK carrying influenza, there are two main reasons for small-scale backyard keepers being asked to house their birds. Housing your birds minimises the risk of your birds coming into contact with infected wild birds or their faeces and so minimises the health risks to your birds. There is also a risk that if your birds become infected then the virus will multiply in your birds and, in the period before the disease is detected, you may unwittingly spread the disease to other domestic birds and in particular other, poultry flocks. So housing is a way to protect your birds and the birds owned by others.
In the UK in recent years there have been a number of outbreaks of AI in commercial flocks associated with exposure to wild birds. Water fowl can carry the disease without showing clinical signs: these birds in particular migrate west from AI hotspots on mainland Europe and beyond, so the risk to birds in the UK increases. Wild birds in which AI has been detected include: Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards, mute swans and various gulls as well as other waterfowl, such as grebes, curlews, herons and coots and some raptor species.
It is recognised that keepers of some small flocks may not be able to house their birds indoors without putting the health and welfare of their birds at risk. Under these circumstances there is a requirement to do what is practicable to minimise the risk to your birds and to those of others. You should consider if you can take steps to keep them separate from wild birds, such as: feeding and watering birds inside, making sure feed stores are protected against wild birds or vermin and removing any wild-bird attractants (removing feeders or filling in puddles) from the area around your birds.
Whether or not you are able to house your birds, you and anyone else in contact with your birds should avoid contact with all other poultry as far as possible.
Poultry like a routine and backyard poultry are used to being able to scavenge for food. Being able to roam means that they can also control their environment, they can avoid, for example getting too hot by moving into shade. If you house your birds, you prevent them scavenging for food, limit their space and their ability to control their temperature. All of these changes can increase stress and lead to undesirable behaviours such as feather pecking and cannibalism. To minimise the risk of stress you need to:
Provide your birds with sufficient food in a sheltered area to prevent attracting wild birds - they will probably eat more than you are used to because they will not be supplementing their diet with vegetation, insects, worms etc that they may eat normally;
Ensure your birds have access to adequate supplies of clean water which cannot be accessed by wild birds– birds will drink up to twice what they will eat.
Provide as much space as possible for your birds. A good way of doing this is to provide sufficient perch space for all of your birds. Properly designed perches enable subservient birds to get away from dominant birds during the day – when on a perch a bird’s ‘flock size’ reduces to three, itself and up to two neighbours. At night birds will want to perch - their feet are designed to lock automatically onto a perch while they sleep – as this is deeply ingrained predator avoidance response. At night you will find the most dominant birds on the highest perches.
Poultry are inquisitive – they need things to occupy them. Normally this need would be fulfilled by ranging around their territory but it your birds are constrained to a small run then you need to think of other things to keep them occupied. There are lots of ways that this can be done but giving the birds something to work at underpins most of them. So for example, put some of their food onto the litter that you should have on the floor of the house – this will encourage them to scavenge in the litter looking for food. Provide greens (cabbages suspended off the floor for example), for the birds to peck at. A full or part bale of straw or hay will give birds something to explore. Always check that anything you are introducing to your housed area hasn’t been in contact with wild birds or their faeces.
Dust bathing is important for the physiological and physiological health of your poultry – provide suitable space and material of dry material for this (e.g. wood shavings, sand or sawdust).
The environment that your birds experience is crucial to their wellbeing. If housed then there is a risk from poor air quality and high temperatures, even in the winter months. Birds are warm blooded animals and produce a considerable amount of heat from the food they consume. In cold weather birds flock together – birds should not be kept on their own - and providing they are not exposed to draughts, even at sub-zero temperatures can keep each other warm. The biggest risk in the UK is overheating – birds are not able to lose heat very efficiently. If the housing is small and poorly ventilated then heat build-up can be a problem. An air temperature of 21oC or below is what you should aim for – an inexpensive maximum/minimum thermometer placed at bird level will enable you to monitor air temperature. You should not be unduly concerned about low temperatures, providing your birds are kept dry and draught free, but high temperatures can be lethal. Do not allow the ammonia concentration to build-up – more frequent than normal replacement of litter material may be required.
If you are struggling to house your birds without a significant risk to their health and welfare, you should discuss this with your local veterinarian and agree preventative steps that you can take to keep them separate from wild birds.
AI strains can be either low or high pathogenicity (ability to cause disease) with low pathogenicity strains having the ability to mutate into high pathogenicity strains. Birds infected by low pathogenicity strains may show no obvious signs of infection or may have mild breathing problems (although a number of conditions can cause this). In contrast high pathogenicity strains can cause sudden and widespread mortality. Birds that have not died may show signs that include: swollen head; blue discoloration of neck and throat; loss of appetite; respiratory distress such as gaping beak; coughing, sneezing or gurgling; diarrhoea and a drop in egg production.
It should be noted that some species of bird (such as ducks, geese and pigeons) display few or no clinical signs of avian influenza (AI).
If you are concerned about the health of your birds, contact your private veterinarian and if you suspect your birds have AI you must contact your local APHA Office.
