Update – Thursday 3rd April 2025:
“Following successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Kington, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2025/26), the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed it becomes a surveillance zone.
“Please note part of the surveillance zone extends into Wales.”
Previous update – 4th March 2025:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Kington, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2025/26).
More details on this can be found below.
From – Department for Environment, Food & Rural AffairsandAnimal and Plant Health Agency
Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ)
From 00:01 on Sunday 16 February 2025 theAIPZhousing measures have been extended to cover Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire in addition to the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.
The England wideAIPZmandating enhanced biosecurityin all other counties remains in force.
Check theinteractive mapto see if you are in an area now covered by mandatory housing measures and theAIPZdeclaration for further details of the measures which apply.
Take action toprevent bird flu and stop it spreading. Be vigilant forsigns of disease and report itto keep your birds safe.
4 March 2025
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 has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled. Please note part of the protection zone and part of the surveillance extends into Wales.
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Loddon, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2025/12), the 10km protection zone has been revoked.
3 March 2025
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zones around the following premises, the 10km surveillance zones have been revoked:
- near Mablethorpe, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/04)
- near Alford, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/08)
- near Skegness, East Lindsay, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/10)
28 February 2025
Following successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zone around a second premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/09), the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed it becomes a surveillance zone.
Influenza of avian origin in wildlife
Influenza of avian origin has been detected in a small number of grey seals on the North Norfolk Coast, and we are aware that avian influenza has also been detected in wild birds in the area.
Mammals which have had close contact with infected wild birds or contaminated environments can become infected with influenza of avian origin.
The numbers involved were not above the usual annual mortality level at this site and this finding is evidence of the effectiveness of the UK’s wildlife surveillance system. There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to non-avian wildlife.
26 February 2025
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Malpas, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire (AIV 2025/24). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/25). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
Following the successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone around the following premises, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked in:
- premises near Easingwold, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (AIV 2025/06)
- second premises near Easingwold, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (AIV 2025/07)
25 February 2025
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds at a premises near Fownhope, Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2025/23)
A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared around the premises. The affected birds on the premises will be humanely culled.
More information on this outbreak can be found by visiting – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67be41b616dc9038974dbb38/AIV_2025-23_DPR_2025-39_CaptiveBirdControlledZone_20250225.pdf
23 February 2025
Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Loddon, South Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2025/12), the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed it becomes a surveillance zone.
Influenza of avian origin in wildlife
Influenza of avian origin has been detected in a small number of grey seals on the North Norfolk Coast, and we are aware that avian influenza has also been detected in wild birds in the area.
Mammals which have had close contact with infected wild birds or contaminated environments can become infected with influenza of avian origin.
The numbers involved were not above the usual annual mortality level at this site and this finding is evidence of the effectiveness of the UK’s wildlife surveillance system. There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to non-avian wildlife.
Find out how wemonitor the risk of influenza of avian origin in wild mammals.
Poultry gatherings banned from 10 February 2025
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 thecaptive bird gathering general licence.
Find outwhat counts as a bird gathering.
Check if you’re in abird flu disease zone on the map.
If you’re in a bird flu disease control zone you mustfollow the rules for that zoneand check if you need alicence 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 fromHPAIand other diseases.
Find outwhat you can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreadingandhow 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, anavian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurityis in force across England. Asimilar zone is in force in Scotland and Wales.
In addition, mandatory housing measures for all kept birds are in force in the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and the unitary authorities of Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire. From 00:01 on Sunday 16 February 2025 these mandatory housing measures have been extended to also include Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.
To find out which measures apply to you and your kept birds, check theinteractive mapand read theAIPZdeclaration 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.
Thesemeasures 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 ofHPAIH5N1 of the current outbreak was confirmed in:
- England on 17 November 2024
- Scotland on 10 January 2025
Whilst there have been no cases ofHPAIconfirmed 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 ofHPAIhave been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season and Northern Ireland continues to haveWOAHself-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Finddetails of all bird flu cases and disease zones in England.
The table below lists the number of confirmed cases ofHPAIduring the currentoutbreak.
| HPAIH5N5 | HPAIH5N1 | |
|---|---|---|
| England | 1 | 37 |
| Scotland | 0 | 1 |
| Wales | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 1 | 40 |
Overall total: 41
The last outbreak ofHPAIin poultry and other captive birds in the UK prior to the outbreak on 5 November 2024 occurred on 14 February 2024.
Finddetails of previous bird flu cases and disease zones in England.
Find details of previous bird flucases in Scotland,cases in Walesandcases in Northern Ireland.
Find details and assessments of past outbreaks in Great Britain in the Animal and Plant Health Agency’soutbreak epidemiology reports.
