Avian influenza: Risk levels increased as first winter case confirmed in poultry in England

8 November 2024

Defra is urging all bird keepers to take action to protect their birds and remain vigilant and report signs of disease following an increase in risk levels and the first confirmed case in poultry in England this winter.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire. To prevent further spread of the disease all poultry on the infected premises will be humanely culled and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been put in place surrounding the premises.

HPAI H5N5 and H5N1 have both been detected in wild birds in Great Britain this autumn and the risk 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 and while the risk in poultry where there is suboptimal or poor biosecurity remains assessed as low this is heightened with high uncertainty. Further information on the evidence which supports these risk levels can be found in APHA’s risk and outbreak assessments.

Bird Keepers

Keepers can check if they are in a bird flu disease control zone using the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map. Further information on the measures that apply in the zones can be found in Defra’s Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England – GOV.UK guidance and the zone declaration available via the notifiable disease case finder on gov.uk. Disease control zones will remain in place until all disease control and surveillance activities in the zones have been successfully completed and there are no suspect cases are under investigation in the zones.

Keepers must keep a close watch on their birds and kept mammals (including pets) for any signs of disease, and seek prompt advice from a vet if they have any concerns. Keepers can find further information on how to spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds and how to keep other pets, such as cats and dogs, safe from bird flu in Defra’s guidance on gov.uk

Clinical signs indicative of infection with an avian influenza virus must be reported in England to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact to the local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

All bird keepers must register their poultry and other captive birds (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines), even if only kept as pets. Registered keepers will receive regular updates and guidance to help protect their birds from avian influenza. In addition, anyone can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service for the latest information on updated risk levels, guidance and new cases in Great Britain regardless of whether they keep birds.

Members of the Public

In Great Britain members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping Defra and APHA understand, the risk to different species groups of wild birds, the risk posed to poultry & other captive birds and the risk of overspill into mammals.

Zoonotic Potential

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Do not touch any dead or sick wild birds you find. The Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Further Information

The latest information and guidance on bird flu can be found at gov.uk/birdflu.

Reporting Avian Influenza

Reporting Suspicion of Avian Influenza in Poultry, other Captive Birds or Kept Mammals

Keepers must keep a close watch on their birds and kept mammals (including pets) for any signs of disease, and seek prompt advice from a vet if they have any concerns. Clinical signs indicative of infection with an avian influenza virus must be reported in England to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact to the local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

See Defra guidance for further information:

Reporting Dead Wild Birds

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols as part of its wild bird surveillance programme.

In Great Britain members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).

APHA triages reports and does not collect all birds. They adjust the collection thresholds for dead wild birds for different species to increase or decrease the sensitivity of surveillance. APHA and their contractors then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand what risk posed to poultry and other captive birds is through understanding how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of wild bird, not all birds will be collected.

APHA publish a report (updated weekly) on findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain and further information on reports of avian influenza in wild bird in Great Britain and across Europe are available via APHAs outbreak assessments. APHA is unable to comment on any testing or reports that are not listed at this site as the results will not yet be ready for publication.  APHA have also launched a new interactive map of reported wild bird mortality and findings of avian influenza virus (bird flu) in wild birds and wild mammals and an interactive data dashboard of findings of avian influenza virus in wild birds.

Reporting Suspicion of Influenza of Avian Origin in Wild Mammals

Avian influenza (bird flu) viruses can also infect mammals. Find out how APHA monitor spill-over of avian influenza virus from wild birds to wild mammals in Avian influenza (bird flu): infection in wild birds and wild mammals – GOV.UK guidance.

If members of the public find a dead wild carnivore (e.g. fox, otter, pine marten, stoat, weasel, pole cat, mink) or marine mammal (e.g. seal, dolphin, porpoise, whale) where the cause of death is unknown, or the animal has shown signs of respiratory or neurological disease prior to death they should report it immediately to APHA by calling:

If you examine a wild mammal or a test a sample from a wild mammal and suspect or detect the presence of avian influenza virus or antibodies to avian influenza virus you must report it immediately to APHA using the telephone numbers above. If you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

Read Defra’s Influenza A (H5N1) infection in mammals: suspect case definition and diagnostic testing criteria – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for further information.

BSAVA Resources

Joint Guidance on Avian Influenza was developed by BSAVA in collaboration with the British Veterinary Association (BVA), British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) and British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS). The Guidance which covers backyard poultry and wild birds, includes recent updates from Government on disease occurrence in mammals, including small animals. The Guide also covers information on clinical signs, how to examine suspected cases, diagnosis, testing, biosecurity, how to report disease and its zoonotic potential. Access to the updated Guidance is available here.

Case definitions in mammals, including small animals, is available here.

Further information on backyard poultry is available in BSAVA’s ‘Avian influenza in backyard poultry’ Q&A and the collection in the BSAVA Library.

Easy access to all BSAVA resources is available here https://bsava.com/article/updated-joint-guidance-on-avian-influenza/.