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Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza advice

Avian Influenza (AI) is a disease of animals caused by influenza A viruses. As the situation is ever changing, we've collated the latest updates and our most important resources.

If you are based in Northern Ireland, please refer to the for guidance.

Latest updates

November 2025

Due to the escalating number and expanding area of cases of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, the AIPZ with mandatory housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds will be extended to the whole of England for all keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs or poultry products (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds). These measures will come into force from Thursday 06 November.

Keepers are encouraged to take action to鈥�听and be vigilant for鈥�鈥痶o keep birds safe. An听Avian听Influenza听Prevention Zone (AIPZ)听also remains in force across the entirety of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of outbreaks of the disease.听This requires taking enhanced biosecurity measures such as reporting of changes in egg production, mandatory record keeping, disinfecting footwear, and cleansing & disinfecting housing and concrete walkways on a continuous basis. An AIPZ will be introduced in Northern Ireland from on 1 November 2025.

June 2025

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which was introduced across NI on 18 January was lifted on 31 May and the ban on bird gatherings was also be lifted. On 9 June 2025 the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) approved and published a self-declaration of the recovery of freedom from infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAI) in poultry for the zone of Northern Ireland. The听听can be viewed on the听WOAH听website.

April 2025

Defra announced听Avian Influenza housing measures are being extended in the north of England. This means that from midnight (00:01) on Monday 7 April, keepers in Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside must house their birds and continue to follow the strictest biosecurity as required by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ).

This extension is in addition to those housing measures already in place across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York, North Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire, in addition to across the whole of Northern Ireland.

AIPZs mandating 听are also in place across the UK. Mandatory housing also applies in any 3km Protection Zone or 3km Captive Bird Monitoring (Controlled) Zones in force surrounding an infected premises). 听

March 2025

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(H5N1) has been detected in a sheep in England. The case was identified following routine surveillance of farmed livestock on a premises in Yorkshire where highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) had been confirmed in other captive birds. The ewe had been showing clinical signs of mastitis. All affected birds and the infected ewe were humanely culled to mitigate the risk of further disease spread. Further official testing of the remaining flock of sheep at the premises, including the lambs of the affected ewe, were negative for the presence of avian influenza virus.

While this is the first time avian influenza virus has been detected in a sheep, it is not the first-time influenza of avian origin has been detected in livestock in other countries. There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the nation鈥檚 livestock population. The听听has been updated and provides further guidance on how and when to report suspicion in mammals.

February 2025

DAERA announced that mandatory housing measures for all kept birds and poultry are due to come into force across from 17 February 2025. A ban on the gatherings of galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry will be implemented in conjunction with this housing order.

A similar ban on gatherings was implemented in England from the 10 February. From 16 February, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) housing measures in England will be 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 wide in all other counties remains in force.听

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January 2025

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have increased in both kept poultry and wild birds across multiple areas of Great Britain. To prevent further spread of disease, Defra have extended the (AIPZ) which was already 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 and applies in from 30 January 2025.

Avian Influenza guidance for vets

We鈥檝e worked with colleagues at BVZS, BVPA, and BSAVA to develop guidance for veterinary professionals presented with backyard poultry or wild birds, following recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza across the UK. The guidance includes clinical signs to look out for, how to examine suspected cases, next steps, and how to report.

Latest version: July 2024

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