Defra - Avian Influenza Latest Situation

30 October 2025

Housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds from #AvianInfluenza are now in place across Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Tyne & Wear and West Yorkshire.

This means it is now a legal requirement for all keepers of over 50 birds or keepers of fewer than 50 birds who sell or give away eggs, meat or poultry in these areas to house their birds and follow stringent biosecurity measures. Keeping your birds undercover away from wild birds is vital to minimise the risk of them becoming infected with avian influenza from wild birds.

You must follow strict biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of disease spreading to your birds. If you are currently in a Protection Zone outside of these areas, you must continue to house your birds.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is also in force across Great Britain.

See GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/.../bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest... for more info.