AIPZ in place across Great Britain due to bird flu outbreak

A person in the West Midlands also acquired avian flu in January after close contact with birds, while the virus was detected in two dead seals in Norfolk 

In the three months leading up to February 2025, almost 1.8 million farmed and captive birds were culled due to the spread of avian flu across the UK. The findings were reported by the BBC, who cited 33 outbreaks of the virus on farms.

Biosecurity restrictions are now in place across England, Wales and Scotland as part of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). From mid-February, all farmers and bird-keepers in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire have also been told to house their flocks.

Housing orders were already in place across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.

Defra told the BBC that the 1.78 million birds culled since the first outbreak in early November was a "small proportion" of the industry's total production, which is about 20 million birds a week. At the start of the worst outbreak of bird flu, 3.2 million birds were culled between October 2021 and September 2022.

A Defra spokesperson said, "We know the devastating impact bird flu has had on farmers and poultry producers which is why we have taken further measures in recent weeks, including introducing housing orders in the most affected areas. 

"We have acted quickly to cull all poultry on the infected premises to stop the risk of the disease spreading and to protect Britain's food security. Any premises affected will be paid compensation for all healthy birds that have been culled for disease control purposes.”

“Given the continued increase in the number of bird flu cases across England, we are taking further action to try and prevent the further spread of disease.”

Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said, “Given the continued increase in the number of bird flu cases across England, we are taking further action to try and prevent the further spread of disease.

“I urge bird keepers to check which requirements apply to them, to continue to exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”

Dani Clifford, Marine Conservation Officer at The Wildlife Trusts, said, “Bird flu has had, and will continue to have, devastating impacts on birds, but we're also concerned about the spread to marine mammals.” 

In mid-February, bird flu was detected in two dead seals at Blakeney Point in Norfolk, the first time the disease has been found in mammals at a National Trust site.

“Monitoring these animals is important to help us to understand the spread of bird flu, but what's more important is that pressures on wildlife are reduced in the first place,” said Clifford. “This includes ensuring seals are not disturbed by people and dogs, and ensuring marine protected areas are safe from damaging activities." 

In late January, the UKHSA also confirmed a case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in a person in the West Midlands region. The individual acquired the infection on a farm, where they had close and prolonged contact with multiple infected birds.  Bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza is rare and has previously occurred a small number of times in the UK.  

Sir Peter Horby, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Centre of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, said, “The primary way to reduce the risk of all animal influenza viruses to humans is to control the spread of these viruses in poultry and livestock and to invest in developing diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drugs.”