Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed further step‑downs in control measures. On 18 February 2026 the 3km protection zones ended and the associated surveillance zones were revoked around two premises near Mundford, Breckland. Earlier in the week, controls were lifted at sites near Newark‑on‑Trent, Gainsborough, Chedburgh and York. By contrast, on 14 February H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds near Ancroft, where a 3km captive‑bird monitoring zone is in place. (gov.uk)
A mandatory Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with housing remains in force in England. Keepers with 50 or more birds must house them. If you keep fewer than 50 birds for your own use only, housing is not required; if you keep fewer than 50 birds but sell or give away eggs, live birds or products, you are treated as a poultry keeper and must house. Wales applied parallel housing measures from 13 November 2025. (gov.uk)
Where holdings fall within a disease control zone, movements of poultry, eggs and certain mammals are prohibited without a licence and enhanced biosecurity and record‑keeping apply. Operators should check the online map to confirm whether their premises sit within a protection zone, surveillance zone or captive bird monitoring zone before arranging movements. (gov.uk)
Bird gatherings are tightly controlled. Events limited to psittaciformes, birds of prey and racing pigeons can proceed under the general licence outside disease control zones, with at least seven days’ notice to APHA. Any gathering involving poultry, anseriformes, passerines, most pigeons or ratites requires a specific licence and cannot be held within control zones. (gov.uk)
Vaccination is not used routinely in England. Poultry and most captive birds cannot be vaccinated; zoos may apply to APHA for authorisation to vaccinate eligible birds. Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate continue to monitor vaccine development via the avian influenza vaccination taskforce. (gov.uk)
Since the start of the 2025 to 2026 season, first detections were recorded on 9 October in Northern Ireland, 11 October in England, 25 October in Wales and 12 November in Scotland. Cumulative UK totals now stand at 94 confirmed HPAI H5N1 cases and 1 LPAI case, including 74 HPAI and 1 LPAI in England. (gov.uk)
APHA currently assesses the risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain as very high. The assessed risk of exposure for domestic poultry is high where biosecurity is suboptimal and medium where stringent biosecurity is consistently applied. (gov.uk)
Public health advice is unchanged. UKHSA assesses the risk to the general public’s health as very low. The Food Standards Agency states that the food safety risk is very low for UK consumers and that properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat. (gov.uk)
Reporting of dead wild birds should be made via the GOV.UK service and members of the public should avoid contact with sick or dead birds. Within the AIPZ, feeding wild gamebirds is prohibited within 500 metres of premises with more than 500 poultry or captive birds. Garden feeding is permitted but good hygiene, including clean feeders and hand‑washing, is essential. (gov.uk)
Influenza of avian origin is notifiable in both wild and kept mammals. Veterinary professionals and laboratories must notify APHA immediately if they suspect infection or detect influenza A virus or antibodies in mammalian samples. Failure to report is an offence. (gov.uk)
The legal basis for England’s controls includes the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006, subsequent Exotic Disease amendment orders, the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (England) Order 2006 and the Avian Influenza (Vaccination) (England) Regulations 2006. (gov.uk)
Immediate actions for keepers are to confirm zoning status on the Defra map, maintain housing and biosecurity in line with the AIPZ declaration, review whether planned movements require licences, and brief staff on reporting routes for suspect disease and dead wild birds. Defra’s ‘stop the spread’ webinars remain a useful reference set for compliance. (gov.uk)