Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed three new H5N1 cases in England on 31 October 2025 at large commercial poultry units near Ormesby St Margaret (Norfolk), Uckfield (East Sussex) and Swineshead (Lincolnshire). Three‑kilometre protection zones and 10‑kilometre surveillance zones are in force around each site and all poultry on the affected premises will be humanely culled. On 30 October, H5N1 was also confirmed in captive birds near Silloth, Cumberland, triggering a 3km captive bird monitoring controlled zone. Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer separately confirmed premises near Milford Haven on 30 and 31 October.
Alongside these case controls, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone remains in place across England with mandatory biosecurity. From 00:01 on Thursday 30 October 2025, additional housing requirements apply in designated high‑risk areas. Keepers must house birds if they have more than 50 birds of any species, or if they keep any number of poultry for the purpose of selling or giving away eggs, poultry products or live birds. Hobby keepers under 50 birds for personal use only are not required to house.
The housing order covers 21 high‑risk counties and unitary areas: 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 and Wear, and West Yorkshire. Defra advises keepers to use the online disease zone map to confirm whether their holding falls within a housing area.
For holdings in the high‑risk housing areas, immediate operational steps include reviewing biosecurity plans, ensuring outside feed and bedding are secured, cleansing and disinfecting housing and hard standings on a continuous basis, and minimising people and vehicle movements. These measures sit on top of the England‑wide AIPZ biosecurity rules and are designed to reduce exposure to wild birds.
Movement restrictions now apply within each disease control zone. Movements of poultry, other captive birds, eggs, poultry by‑products, used litter and manure, and certain mammals to or from premises where birds are kept are prohibited unless a relevant general licence applies or a specific licence is granted. Applicants for specific licences should allow at least five working days and ensure destination premises have valid biosecurity reports where required.
Food businesses handling meat from poultry originating within a protection zone must follow specific rules on identification marks, segregation and permitted destinations. Under general licences EXD249 and EXD264, marked meat may move or be temporarily unmarked for processing under defined conditions. Operators should check the latest guidance and maintain documentation for enforcement checks.
Bird gatherings remain tightly controlled. Events cannot be held for most poultry species in any AIPZ area where housing is mandated. Outside disease control zones, gatherings may proceed only if organisers either obtain a specific licence for poultry or comply with the conditions of the general licence for other captive birds. Organisers must notify APHA in line with licence requirements.
Vaccination policy is unchanged. Poultry and most captive birds in England cannot be vaccinated against avian influenza. Vaccination is permitted only for licensed zoo collections, subject to APHA authorisation. Government and industry continue to assess longer‑term options through the avian influenza vaccination taskforce; the current focus remains biosecurity, early reporting and stamping‑out.
Risk assessments published by government state the risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain is very high. For poultry, exposure risk is assessed as high where biosecurity is suboptimal and low where stringent biosecurity is consistently applied. UKHSA advises the risk to the general public remains very low; the Food Standards Agency assesses the food safety risk as very low and confirms properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat.
Wild bird management remains part of the response. Keepers and land managers should use official interactive tools to track findings in wild birds and follow Defra’s mitigation strategy. Within an AIPZ, feeding of wild gamebirds is prohibited within 500 metres of premises holding more than 500 birds; those feeding garden birds should maintain strict hygiene of feeders and water baths.
Influenza of avian origin in mammals is notifiable in both wild and kept mammals. Veterinarians and laboratories must report suspected or detected influenza A virus or antibodies in mammals immediately: in England via 03000 200 301, in Wales via 03003 038 268, and in Scotland via the local Field Services Office. Failure to report is an offence.
By World Organisation for Animal Health rules, the UK is not currently free from HPAI this season. As at 31 October 2025 there have been 13 confirmed H5N1 cases in England, 3 in Wales, none in Scotland and 1 in Northern Ireland, totalling 17. For context, previous UK seasons recorded 81 HPAI cases in 2024–25, 6 in 2023–24, 207 in 2022–23 and 158 in 2021–22.
For producers and supply‑chain managers, the practical takeaways are clear. Check the disease zone map daily, complete housing where mandated, document gate biosecurity controls, and schedule licensed movements early to meet the five‑day lead time. Food operators handling meat from protection zones should verify marking and segregation procedures, and all keepers should review waste, litter and carcass disposal against current licence conditions.
Keepers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should follow national guidance and declarations, noting that control measures and licensing processes can differ by administration. England‑based readers should rely on Defra and APHA communications as the primary source of statutory requirements and seek veterinary advice promptly if disease is suspected.