Up to date Avian Influenza Information

AI Confirmed in West Lancashire

Avian influenza H5N8 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) was confirmed in captive birds (falcons) at a commercial premises in West Lancashire on 1 April 2021.

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Published 28th March 2021

AI Confirmed in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

Avian influenza H5N3 was confirmed in turkey breeders at a commercial premises near Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester on 26 March 2021. Further testing has confirmed this to be a low pathogenic strain and the 1km Temporary Movement Restriction Zone has been replaced with a 1km low pathogenic avian influenza Restricted Zone.

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Published 27th March 2021

AI Confirmed in Winsford, Staffordshire

Avian influenza H5N8 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) was confirmed in broiler chickens at a commercial premises near Uttoxeter, East Staffordshire on 27 March 2021. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared around the premises. All the poultry on site will be humanely culled.

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Published 15th February 2021

AI Confirmed in Glenrothes, Scotland

Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Sheila Voas, has confirmed that a flock of kept birds from a gamebird rearing premises in Leven, Glenrothes has tested positive for avian influenza (H5N1). Further tests to establish the pathogenicity of disease are underway.

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Published 7th February 2021

AI Confirmed in Redcar, North Yorkshire

Avian influenza HPAI H5N8 was confirmed in laying chickens at a small commercial premises near Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland on 6 February 2021. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared around the premises. All the poultry on site will be humanely culled.

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Published 28th January 2021

AI Confirmed in Anglesey, Wales

Avian Influenza has been confirmed at a premises in Anglesey, Wales. Pathogenicity is yet to be confirmed. Temporary Control Zones have been put in place around the infected premises. Details of the measures that apply within these zones can be found in the Declaration of a Temporary Control Zone.

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Published 6th January 2021

AI Confirmed in County Antrim

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 has now been confirmed at a holding in Clough, County Antrim. A 3k Protection Zone (PZ) and 10k Surveillance Zone (SZ) have been declared around the premises.

Further details can be found in the Declaration of PZ and SZ found here.

The Temporary Control Zone found here declared on 2 January has now been revoked.

The PZ and SZ are in effect from 17:40 on 6 January until this Declaration is withdrawn or amended by further declaration.

A suspect case of avian influenza is being investigated at a holding in Lisburn, County Antrim. Based on the clinical signs and initial results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) the Chief Veterinary Officer has taken the decision to depopulate the site and introduce Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) to mitigate for onward disease spread.

Temporary Control Zones come into force at 1700 hrs on 6 January 2021 until this Declaration is withdrawn or amended by further declaration.

Full details of the scope and measures required within the TCZ can be found here.

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Published 29th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Exmouth, Devon

Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in backyard poultry at a premises near Exmouth, East Devon, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been declared around the premises.

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone, the Protection Zones declared on 29 November and 3 December around two premises near Northallerton in North Yorkshire were revoked on 29 December and the area merged with the Surveillance Zone.

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Published 29th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Watton, Norfolk

Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in rearing ducks at a premises near Watton, Breckland, Norfolk on 28 December. A 3.4km Protection Zone and 10.4km Surveillance Zone has been declared around the premises.

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Published 26th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Attleborough, Norfolk

Avian influenza (pathogenicity to be confirmed) H5N8 was confirmed in a captive bird (non-poultry) premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk on 26 December. On the 28 December further testing confirmed this to be a highly pathogenic strain (HPAI H5N8). All birds on the infected premises have been humanely culled. The Temporary Control Zone has been revoked and a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Temporary Control Surveillance Zone has been declared around the premises.

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Published 22nd December 2020

AI Confirmed near Hawes, North Yorkshire

Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed in a backyard flock of chickens near Hawes, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire on 18 December 2020. Following further testing the 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone and 10km Temporary Movement Restriction Zones have been revoked and replaced by a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone.

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Published 20th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Attleborough, Norfolk

Following further testing, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in a commercial duck breeding premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk on 20 December 2020. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled. The 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been revoked and replaced by a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone.

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Published 19th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Gillingham, Dorset

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in backyard poultry near Gillingham, North Dorset, Dorset on 19 December 2020. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been declared.

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Published 18th December 2020

AI Confirmed on Sanday, Orkney

A case of Avian Influenza H5N8 in a small commercial free range laying flock on Sanday, Orkney.

Temporary Control Zones (TCZs) of 3 km and 10 km have been put in place. These zones place movement restrictions on poultry, carcasses, eggs and other things liable to spread disease. These TCZs are temporary and will remain in place until the pathogenicity of the virus is identified.

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Published 18th December 2020

AI Confirmed near Hawes, North Yorkshire

A case of avian influenza H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) in a backyard flock of chickens near Hawes, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire.

A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone and a 10km Temporary Movement Restriction Zone have been declared around the premises.

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Published 4th December 2020

Hens to be housed from 14 December

The Government made the following announcement on 3rd December 2020:

“The Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds, following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.

The new housing measures, which will come into force on 14 December, mean that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry products including eggs.

Government Chief Veterinary Officers are encouraging bird keepers to use the next 11 days to prepare for new housing measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and where necessary put up additional housing.

These housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity regulations that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) on 11 November. The AIPZ means that all poultry and captive bird keepers need to take extra precautions, such as cleaning and disinfecting equipment, clothing and vehicles, limiting access to non-essential people on their sites, and workers changing clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures.

The UK Government has worked closely with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to introduce the new housing measures at the same time, meaning that the restrictions will be applied across the whole of Great Britain.

A joint statement from Great Britain’s three Chief Veterinary Officers said:

We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and are now planning to introduce a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers to keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds.

Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from 14 December onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

Poultry and captive bird keepers are advised to be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seek prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns. They can help prevent avian flu by maintaining good biosecurity on their premises, including:

• housing or netting all poultry and captive birds
• cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
• reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and using effective vermin control
• thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing at the end of a production cycle
• keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all points where people should use it, such as farm entrances and before entering poultry and captive bird housing or enclosures
• minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

The new housing measures will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to protect flocks.”

BFREPA is a member of Defra’s AI Core Group which will be discussing the exit strategy for the housing order during the 16 weeks grace period for the free range egg marketing status of eggs. Free range eggs can continue to be marketed as free range for 16 weeks following the 14 December. It is hoped that risk assessments during this period will enable the housing order to be lifted before the grace period ends in mid-April.

BFREPA will keep you updated as to the risk assessments and exit strategy for the housing requirement.