GovWire

Contents:

• Latest situation
• All bird flu cases and disease zones
• Bird flu guidance
• Bird gatherings
• Vaccines
• Latest GOV.UK news stories
• Risk levels and outbreak assessments
• Wild birds
• Mammals
• Bird flu webinars
• Defra policies and contingency plans
• Bird flu legislation

Latest situation

5 November 2024

All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect their birds following a further increase in the avian influenza (bird flu) risk levels in Great Britain.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 and H5N1 have been detected in wild birds in Great Britain this autumn.

The risk level of HPAI H5 in wild birds has increased from medium to high.

The risk level in poultry:

• where good biosecurity is consistently applied at all times has increased from very low to low with low uncertainty
• where there is suboptimal or poor biosecurity remains assessed as low but is heightened with high uncertainty

While findings of HPAI in wild birds during recent years have been dominated by the H5N1 virus strain, the finding of HPAI H5N5 was likely this season and follows previous findings in Great Britain and recent detections of the strain in continental Europe.

Further information on the evidence which supports these risk levels can be found in our risk and outbreak assessments.

While the UK does not currently have outbreaks ofHPAIin poultry or other captive birds, keepers must remain vigilant and practise stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of their birds. Find out how to protect your birds in our biosecurity guidance.

New registration requirements for bird keepers in Great Britain

On 19 March the government announced new measures to help protect the poultry sector from bird flu.

All bird flu cases and disease control zones

There are no current disease control zones in England.

The UK has self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza for Great Britain with effect from 29 March 2024 and in Northern Ireland from 31 March 2023. This is in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules.

The last outbreak of HPAI in poultry and other captive birds in the UK occurred between 26 October 2021 and 29 March 2024.

The last cases were confirmed in:

• England on 14 February 2024
• Scotland on 22 November 2023
• Wales on 27 April 2023
• Northern Ireland on 16 October 2022

The table below lists the number of cases of HPAI H5N1 in each year of the last outbreak.

There was one confirmed case of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N3in Scotland on 20 March 2023.

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 Agencys outbreak epidemiology reports.

Bird flu guidance

Find out how to:

• spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds
• report dead wild birds
• prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
• follow the rules in disease zones
• check if you need a movement licence and how to apply
• house your birds safely
• follow the rules if you keep racing pigeons, birds of prey and other captive birds
• hold a bird gathering

Find out when game birds are kept or wild and the rules you need to follow if you keep, release or catch them up.

You can read guidance about:

• how to keep other pets safe from bird flu, such as cats and dogs
• how bird flu spreads in wild birds and wild mammals, and how the government monitors it
• avian influenza (bird flu) vaccination

Bird gatherings

Gatherings of all types of poultry and other captive birds including gatherings of anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans) are currently permitted. You need to follow therequirements of the poultry gathering general licenceand notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at least 7 days before the event.

You can read the updated risk assessment on the likelihood of spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 associated with bird fairs, shows, markets, sales and other gatherings.

Vaccines

You cannot vaccinate poultry or most captive birds against bird flu in England.

View the original news story