Updated: Updated to cover the new case Boston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire.
Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other mammals.
Some strains of avian influenza cause a notifiable disease. If you suspect any strain of avian flu you must tell your nearest Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.
If you keep poultry, you should keep a close watch on them for signs of disease, and maintain high levels of biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your poultry, seek prompt advice from your vet. Sign up to our Alerts Service to keep up to date with the latest news.
You must register your poultry if you have flocks of 50 or more birds. This also helps us to contact you during an outbreak of disease.
Latest situation
Read avian influenza (bird flu) in winter 2016 to 2017 for announcements.
You can read more further down this page about the restrictions and movement controls in place in Protection Zones and Surveillance Zones declared around specific cases in England.
On 26 January 2017 we confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in a turkey flock near Boston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. We have put in place a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading. Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration, Lincolnshire (26 January 2017)
(PDF, 3.28MB, 14 pages)
.
On 24 January 2017, we confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in a commercial flock of farmed breeding pheasants in Wyre, Lancashire. We have put in place a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading. Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration, Lancashire (24 January 2017)
(PDF, 511KB, 14 pages)
.
On 18 January 2017 we lifted the 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) around the infected premises confirmed on 16 December 2016 near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. However, the Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone for the new case declared on 16 January 2017, which cover very similar areas, are in force so anyone affected in this area is likely still to be covered by restrictions. You should use our interactive map to check.
On 16 January 2017, we confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in a commercial turkey unit in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. We have put in place a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
On 6 January 2017, a case of avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks on a premises near Settle in North Yorkshire. A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone are in place around the premises.
On 4 January 2017 we announced that the Prevention Zones in place across GB will remain in place until 28 February 2017. Keepers of poultry and captive birds must “house” them away from wild birds. They must maintain biosecurity and keep a close watch on the health of their birds. Read more about this further down this page. We have published short, simple advice specifically for keepers of ‘backyard flocks’ on measures they must take.
Poultry keepers and the public are reminded to remain vigilant, to follow our advice on biosecurity, and to comply fully with the prevention zone and temporary gatherings ban. The risk to kept birds cannot be eliminated by housing alone. This virus can be carried into buildings on people and things to infect birds. Good biosecurity measures are essential.
We need people to continue to report findings of dead wild birds so that we can collect some of these and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed; we report on any cases we find in wild birds.
Public Health England advise that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency say that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
Use our interactive map to check if you live within any restriction zones.
A temporary suspension on gatherings of some species of birds is in force.
About avian influenza
How to spot avian influenza
There are 2 types of avian influenza.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the more serious type. It is often fatal in birds. The main clinical signs of HPAI in birds are:
swollen head
blue discolouration of neck and throat
loss of appetite
respiratory distress such as gaping beak, coughing, sneezing, gurgling, rattling
diarrhoea
fewer eggs laid
increased mortality
Clinical signs can vary between species of bird and some species may show minimal clinical signs (ducks and geese).
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) is usually less serious. It can cause mild breathing problems, but affected birds will not always show clear signs of infection.
The severity of LPAI depends on the type of bird and whether it has any other illnesses.
Anyone who keeps poultry must keep a close watch on them for any signs of disease, and must seek prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns.
How avian influenza is spread
The disease spreads from bird to bird by direct contact or through contaminated body fluids and faeces.
The avian influenza virus changes frequently, creating new strains, and there is a constant risk that one of the new strains may spread easily among people. But there is no evidence that any recent strain of avian influenza has been able to spread directly between people.
Avian influenza isn’t an airborne disease.
Prevention Zone
The Prevention Zones in place across the whole of Great Britain will remain in place until 28 February 2017.
Keepers of poultry and captive birds must “house” them away from wild birds. They must maintain their biosecurity, following our advice, and keep a close watch on the health of their birds. We have published short, simple advice for keepers of ‘backyard flocks’ on measures they must take.
An
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declaration
(PDF, 139KB, 2 pages)
was made by Defra on 6 January 2017 (this replaced the earlier declaration made on 6 December 2016). Declarations have also been made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The zones require the immediate and compulsory housing of domestic chickens, hens, turkeys and ducks, or where this is not practical, their complete separation from contact with wild birds. For farmed geese, gamebirds and other captive birds, keepers should take practical steps to keep these birds separate from wild birds.
We have taken this action because of the increased risk of avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK. Since the autumn of 2016, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 have been found in poultry and wild birds in several countries across Europe. We are continuing to monitor the situation.
The Prevention Zones help reduce the risk of poultry coming into contact with wild birds which that could carry the virus, or with their droppings. They also reduce the potential for any food or water that poultry use to become contaminated by wild birds. Even when birds are housed there is still a risk of infection, which is why there is an ongoing need for good biosecurity.
Poultry keepers must continue to follow the existing animal welfare rules.
Biosecurity
If you keep poultry you must keep a close watch on them for any signs of disease. If you have any concerns about their health, you must quickly seek advice from your vet.
You should read our detailed information about how to house your birds and keep them separate from wild birds, and about extra biosecurity measures:
Biosecurity and preventing disease in captive birds within a Prevention Zone
PDF, 225KB, 18 pages
All bird keepers must now take extra biosecurity steps, including:
minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and wild birds
making sure that feed and water can’t be accessed by wild birds
taking all reasonable precautions to avoid the transfer of contamination between premises, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear
reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry or captive birds are kept
implementing effective vermin control programmes around buildings where poultry or captive birds are kept
thoroughly cleansing and disinfecting housing and equipment at the end of a production cycle
keeping Defra-approved disinfectant at the right concentration at key points such as farm entrances and entrances to bird houses
Backyard flocks
All poultry and captive birds, including backyard flocks, must be housed or, where it is not practicable to do so, kept separate from wild birds, to comply with the legal requirements of the Prevention Zones.
We’ve put together this short leaflet to help keepers of small flocks of poultry to look after their birds whilst there is a Prevention Zone in place:
How to keep your birds safe from avian influenza (bird flu)
PDF, 188KB, 1 page
The leaflet has been put together by Defra with help from the British Veterinary Association, Royal Veterinary College and British Veterinary Poultry Association.
If you keep your birds near your home, consider housing them in alternative accommodation, such as a garden building, a garage or redundant building that could be adapted to house them temporarily.
Remember to check for, and remove, hazardous and toxic substances such as rat bait, and make sure the birds have access to water and somewhere to perch. You must also practice good biosecurity - for example disinfecting footwear and equipment and washing clothing after contact with birds.
If you’re concerned about backyard flocks which haven’t been housed or kept separate, then the owner may not yet be aware of the requirement; you can contact your local Trading Standards team if you’re still concerned.
Free range
Under the current housing restrictions, birds and eggs are still considered free range provided they meet all other requirements. Declaring a Prevention Zone means birds can be housed for up to 12 weeks (in this case, up till 28 February 2017) and still maintain their free range status. The 12 week period applies to the time when birds are slaughtered or eggs are laid, rather than the time of sale. So provided birds are slaughtered or eggs are laid on or before 28 February 2017, they may still be marketed as free range.
Pigeons or birds of prey
You can still fly pigeons or birds of prey, but you should try to prevent them from making direct contact with (or catching) wildfowl. Keep a close watch on the health of your birds.
Game birds and shoots
Shoots have not been banned in the Prevention Zone.
If game birds are kept captive, they are covered by the Prevention Zone rules. Once game birds have been released they are classified as wild birds. The person who released the game birds is no longer classed as the ‘keeper’ of the birds.
Where released game birds continue to be fed and watered this can continue, though you should make reasonable efforts to minimise the chance of other wild birds accessing their feed and water. You should use commercial feed and fresh or treated water.
Advice on rearing game birds and shooting whilst the Prevention Zone is in force is available from the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. This has been put together by seven leading countryside and shooting organisations (BASC, CA, CLA, GFA, GWCT, NGO and SGA) and endorsed by Defra, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments.
Advice for the public
Public health
Some strains of avian influenza can pass to humans, but this is very rare. It usually requires very close contact between the human and infected birds. Based on what we know about the H5N8 strain, the risk to public health is considered very low. There have never been any recorded cases of H5N8 in humans.
The Food Standards Agency advise that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
More information on avian influenza in people is available from Public Health England.
If you employ people who work with poultry or work with poultry yourself, you can also read Health and Safety Executive advice on protecting workers from avian influenza.
Wild birds
If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).
We then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird.
We publish a report (updated weekly) on findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) H5N8 in wild birds in Great Britain.
Movement controls and licences
We’ve included a generic description of the controls we put in place, as well as specific information about individual recent cases.
Use our interactive map to check if you live within any restriction zones.
Where general or specific licences are available in relation to movements of poultry or poultry meat, they will be listed in further sections below.
Case near Boston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, January 2017
On 26 January 2017, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Office confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in a turkey flock near Boston, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Some birds at the premises have died and the remaining birds will be humanely culled. We have put in place a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration, Lincolnshire (26 January 2017)
(PDF, 3.28MB, 14 pages)
.
Case in Wyre, Lancashire, January 2017
On 24 January 2017, a case of avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in a commercial flock of farmed breeding pheasants in Wyre, Lancashire. Some birds at the premises have died and the remaining birds will be humanely culled. We have put in place a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration, Lancashire (24 January 2017)
(PDF, 511KB, 14 pages)
.
Case in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, January 2017
On 16 January 2017 the UK’s Chief Veterinary Office confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in turkeys on a commercial unit in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises. Within these zones a range of controls are in place to prevent the spread of disease. Some birds at the premises have died and the remaining birds will be humanely culled.
Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration, Lincolnshire (16 January 2017)
(PDF, 2.73MB, 14 pages)
.
Case near Settle in North Yorkshire, January 2017
On 6 January 2017, a case of avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks on a premises near Settle in North Yorkshire. A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone are in place around the premises, and specific restrictions apply.
Specific information about the restrictions is set out in the
Avian Influenza declaration - Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone, Yorkshire (6 January 2017)
(PDF, 3.07MB, 14 pages)
.
Case near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, December 2016
On 16 December 2016 we confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in turkeys on a poultry farm near Louth, East Lindsey in Lincolnshire. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises. After appropriate cleansing and disinfection, the 3km PZ was lifted on 9 January 2017, and the 10km SZ was lifted on 18 January 2017.
This change was made by means of
Avian Influenza declaration - revocation of Surveillance Zone, Lincolnshire (18 January 2017)
(PDF, 81.8KB, 1 page)
which revoked
Avian Influenza declaration - Surveillance Zone (merged), Lincolnshire (9 January 2017)
(PDF, 737KB, 7 pages)
(which in turn revoked the original
Avian Influenza declaration, Lincolnshire (16 December 2016 revoked 9 January 2017)
(PDF, 1.43MB, 13 pages)
).
The Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone for the new case declared on 16 January 2017 (see above), which cover very similar areas, are in force so anyone affected in this area is likely still to be covered by restrictions. You should use our interactive map to check.
Case in Wales, December 2016
On 3 January 2017 a case of avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks on a premises in Carmarthenshire. For this case, please check the Welsh Government website.
Infected premises
This is a general description of controls we apply. Consult any specific Declaration in force.
On confirmation of disease, a 10 km Surveillance Zone and an inner Protection Zone of 3 km are put in place around each infected premises. A detailed breakdown of the specific restrictions in place are contained in the declaration imposing these restrictions.
Susceptible animals are culled and their carcases and any other contaminated products of animal origin are safely disposed of. Preliminary cleansing and disinfection is also carried out as part of these activities.
Protection Zone
This is a general description of controls we apply. Consult any specific Declaration in force.
If your premises is within the defined Protection Zone within a 3 km radius of an affected premises you must:
continue to keep poultry and other captive birds in their buildings or isolated from other poultry, captive birds and wild birds
not move poultry or other captive birds without a licence (exceptions apply for pet animals)
not move pigs or other mammals susceptible to avian influenza on or off premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence
ensure that all bird carcases are disposed of in accordance with veterinary instructions – unless they are seized or disposed of by a veterinary inspector
ensure that appropriate biosecurity measures are in place for people entering or leaving any premises where poultry, other captive birds or eggs are kept
not spread poultry litter, manure and slurry or remove these from your premises
not have bird gatherings or release game birds
not move eggs without a licence - however table eggs may be moved to wholesale, retail premises or subsequent movements (such as when purchased by a consumer)
not move poultry meat within or outside of the zone except in accordance with specific rules set out below
cleanse and disinfect vehicles which may be contaminated
keep specified records eg poultry movements and visitor records
continue to implement the requirements set out in the
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declaration
(PDF, 139KB, 2 pages)
All premises within a Protection Zone are also in the associated Surveillance Zone (and the following restrictions also apply).
Surveillance Zone
This is a general description of controls we apply. Consult any specific Declaration in force.
If your premises is within the defined Surveillance Zone within a 10 km radius of an affected premises you must:
continue to keep poultry and other captive birds in their buildings or isolated from other poultry, captive birds and wild birds
not move poultry or other captive birds on or off premises where other birds are kept (exceptions apply for pet animals) without a licence
not move pigs or other mammals susceptible to avian influenza to or from places where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence
ensure that appropriate biosecurity measures are in place for people entering or leaving any premises where poultry, other captive birds or eggs are kept
not spread poultry litter, manure and slurry or remove these from your premises
not have bird gatherings or release game birds
not move poultry and eggs out of the zone without a licence - however table eggs may be moved to wholesale, retail premises or subsequent movements (such as when purchased by a consumer)
cleanse and disinfect vehicles which may be contaminated
keep specified records eg poultry movements and visitor records
continue to implement the requirements set out in the
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declaration
(PDF, 139KB, 2 pages)
Bird gatherings (such as shows or exhibitions) and the release of game birds are banned
Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles and instruments which may be contaminated must be carried out as soon as materials are unloaded. Vehicles leaving premises within the zone must also be cleaned and disinfected before departing.
General licences
General licences allow a movement or activity that would otherwise be prohibited in England and Wales. You need to check that you meet and comply with the conditions of the general licence. If you do so, you don’t need to apply - you can rely on the general licence as providing authority for the movement or activity.
The following general licences are currently available (the first three, with titles ending in ‘EW’ are also available in Wales):
Movement of table eggs within or out of the PZ or SZ – general licence EXD 243(AI)(EW)
(PDF, 129KB, 3 pages)
Movement of poultry carcases off premises in PZ EXD339(AI)(EW)
(PDF, 128KB, 3 pages)
Movement of poultry litter, manure or slurry off premises in PZ or SZ EXD353(AI)(EW)
(PDF, 134KB, 4 pages)
Movement of samples for salmonella testing from the PZ or SZ - general licence EXD 314(AI)
(PDF, 146KB, 3 pages)
EXD249 and EXD264 for food business operators in England – see ‘Meat from poultry within the Protection Zone’ below
Specific licences
If you need to move something that is restricted in any Protection Zone or Surveillance Zones currently in force, you should apply now to APHA so that your application can be considered. Please fill in the
Application requesting exemption from restrictions form (EXD100)
(MS Word Document, 224KB)
and send it by email to APHA at outbreak.licensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk (please ignore instructions on the form about signing it and sending it by post).
If a licence is issued, it will allow a one-off movement and be subject to certain conditions based on disease control risk. Specific licences which are currently being issued on request include:
movement of poultry from the PZ or SZ to slaughter
movements of pullets within the SZ only
Meat from poultry within a Protection Zone in England
Food business operators have to follow some specific rules for any meat produced from poultry or farmed game birds originating within a Protection Zone. We do this to reduce animal health risks. Other poultry meat (that is, from poultry not originating within the Protection Zone) is unaffected.
Meat from poultry or farmed game birds originating within a Protection Zone can be moved or sold, subject to a number of conditions. These include a requirement that the health mark is replaced with a specific mark (approved by the Secretary of State in any particular disease outbreak) which must remain with it throughout any processing or repackaging. These conditions are set out in General Licence EXD249. Under some specific circumstances – set out in General Licence EXD 264 – the recipient of poultry meat is permitted to remove the specific mark temporarily for production, and in some circumstance not to re-apply it.
The legal requirements are set out in each General Licence but we’ve also published a more detailed explanation of the rules and how they work.
Movement of meat from poultry originating in a PZ - general licence (EXD249(HPAI)(E))
(PDF, 146KB, 3 pages)
Removal of the special mark applied to meat from poultry originating in a PZ - general licence (EXD264(HPAI)(E))
(PDF, 96.1KB, 2 pages)
Approval of the mark identifying meat from poultry originating in a PZ
(PDF, 115KB, 2 pages)
Movement of meat from poultry originating in a PZ - explanation of the rules
(PDF, 139KB, 5 pages)
Bird fairs, markets, shows and other gatherings
All markets, fairs, shows, exhibitions or other gatherings of birds (regardless of species) are banned within any Protection and Surveillance Zones declared within England.
For the following species of birds, markets, fairs, shows, exhibitions or other gatherings are banned in England from 20 December 2016 (they are no longer covered by the general licence on bird gatherings) until further notice:
birds of the family galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey)
birds of the family anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans)
birds that are reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, the production of other commercial products, for restocking supplies of game or for the purposes of any breeding programme for the production of these categories of birds
Similar bans are in place in Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For pigeons, aviary birds and certain other captive pet birds (strictly, columbiformes, passerines and psittaciformes), gatherings are only permitted (outside the Protection and Surveillance Zones) subject to strict general licence conditions.
We have published guidance on how to follow the general licence conditions for a bird gathering, and biosecurity advice for bird gathering organisers and participants.
The collection of wild game birds is not affected by these measures.
Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation if your poultry are killed under orders from government or APHA in the event of a disease outbreak. Owners are not entitled to compensation following the declaration of the Prevention Zone.
Trade, import and export issues
We summarise any current issues for UK poultry and poultry product exports on our topical issues page. We also have a collection of guidance and forms for importing and exporting live animals or animal products.
Exports and EU Trade
As soon as disease is confirmed, we put in place measures in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC. A Protection Zone (PZ) of 3 km and Surveillance Zone (SZ) of 10 km are declared around all infected premises containing poultry. No trade is allowed from the affected premises as soon as they are put under restriction. We trace all recent movements from the infected premises.
Imports from the EU
You can’t import poultry and poultry products into the UK from within Protection Zones and Surveillance Zones imposed around confirmed cases of avian flu within other EU countries.
EU trade relies on strict certification for movement of live poultry, day old chicks and hatching eggs. Products such as poultry meat, table eggs and poultry products are not subject to certification within the EU.
Recent cases
Information about recent cases in England is set out above.
Information about the case of avian influenza H5N8, confirmed in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Carmarthenshire on 3 January 2017, is available on the Welsh Government website.
A case of low severity (H5N1) avian influenza (bird flu) was confirmed by the Scottish authorities on a poultry breeding farm in Dunfermline on 13 January 2016. Restrictions around the affected site were lifted on 11 February 2016. We published an epidemiological report summarising our investigations into the case.
A case of H7N7 avian flu was confirmed near Preston, Lancashire on 13 July 2015. A low severity case of H7N7 was confirmed on 2 February 2015 in chickens at a farm in Hampshire. A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed on 16 November 2014 in ducks on premises in East Yorkshire. Restrictions around the affected sites were lifted on 16 August 2015, 28 February 2015, and 21 December 2014, respectively. We have published reports about the investigations we carried out. Earlier papers about these cases are available on the National Archives website.
Control strategy
Disease control strategy
Cases of avian influenza, if they occur, are controlled by following the contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases and the notifiable avian disease control strategy. You can read what happens when a notifiable disease is suspected or confirmed.
Legislation on avian influenza
The legislation covering avian influenza includes:
The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006
The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Poultry) (England) Order 2006
The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (England) Order 2006
The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006
Enforcement
Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities.
Penalties for offences
Breach of controls is an offence, with a penalty of up to £5,000 on summary conviction and up to 3 months’ imprisonment per offence.