UK Wales Office : Avian influenza (bird flu) in winter 2016 to 2017

We have brought together key information about avian influenza (bird flu) risks in this news story, which is regularly updated if the situation changes.

Latest

On 16 January 2017, we confirmed a case of avian influenza H5N8 in a commercial turkey unit in 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.

On 9 January 2017, the Protection Zone (PZ) around the infected premises near Louth, East Lindsey in Lincolnshire, confirmed on 16 December 2016, was lifted. PZ restrictions are no longer in place but Surveillance Zone (SZ) restrictions continue to apply to both the SZ and the former PZ.

About avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease of birds.

The H5N8 strain of the disease has been confirmed at two separate poultry farms in Lincolnshire, at a premises near Settle in North Yorkshire, and at a premises in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and restrictions are in place.

The same strain has also been found in wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales.

Risks to public health are very low and avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Actions to reduce risks and protect poultry

We have taken several actions to reduce the risks and help protect poultry and captive birds from avian flu.

If you keep poultry - whether on a commercial scale or simply a small backyard flock - you are now required by law to house them (keep them under cover) or otherwise keep them separate from wild birds. This requirement (the Prevention Zone) has now been extended until 28 February 2017. We have also banned gatherings of poultry across the UK.

All poultry keepers must continue to keep a close watch on the health of their birds, and take steps to reduce the risk of infection via the environment, for example in wild bird droppings, by practicing good biosecurity. You should do this even if your birds are inside.

Read a guide for keepers of backyard flocks on how to reduce the risk to your birds from Avian Flu

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Advice on rearing game birds and shooting whilst the Prevention Zone is in force is available from The National Gamekeepers Organisation

Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), or other dead wild birds such as gulls or birds of prey, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77. Defra will 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.

Find more information

These links provide further guidance to poultry keepers and to the public.

Government announcements

We have made a number of announcements: