Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed a further case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in commercial poultry near Lakenheath, West Suffolk, on 26 October 2025 (case reference AIV 2025/70). A statutory 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone are now in place around the premises, and culling of birds on site will proceed under existing disease control powers. This update was published by government on 26 October 2025.
Additional cases were recorded on 25 October 2025 at a commercial site near Bedale, Thirsk and Malton, North Yorkshire (AIV2025/68), and at a second premises near Penrith, Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria (AIV2025/69). Each location is subject to the standard 3km and 10km control zones with culling of affected birds. On 24 October 2025, H5N1 was also confirmed in other captive birds near Burscough, West Lancashire (AIV2025/66), triggering a 3km captive bird monitoring controlled zone.
With these detections, the 2025 to 2026 season now stands at seven confirmed H5N1 cases in England, with one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, and none reported to date in Scotland, taking the UK total to nine as at 26 October 2025. In line with World Organisation for Animal Health rules, the UK is no longer free from highly pathogenic avian influenza this season.
England remains in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) requiring mandatory biosecurity across all holdings. The AIPZ declaration was updated on 22 September 2025 to strengthen duties for game bird rearers and shoot operators and to add enhanced reporting where keepers observe unusual morbidity, mortality or reduced egg production, feed or water intake. The AIPZ will be kept under regular review.
Operators within Protection or Surveillance Zones should assume that movements of poultry, eggs, by‑products, carcases, equipment and certain mammals are either prohibited or require a licence from APHA. Before arranging collections or deliveries, businesses should check the official disease map, confirm their zone status and review licence conditions alongside local cleansing and disinfection requirements.
Bird gatherings are permitted only when the site sits outside any live disease control zone. Organisers must seek a specific licence for gatherings of poultry and meet the conditions set out in the general licence for gatherings of other captive birds. Event plans should include time for licensing and re‑checks against any newly declared zones.
Vaccination policy remains unchanged. Routine vaccination of poultry and most captive birds against avian influenza is not permitted in England. Zoos can apply to APHA for authorisation to vaccinate eligible birds, while Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate continue to review vaccine development through the avian influenza vaccination taskforce.
Current government assessments rate the risk of H5 in wild birds as high. The risk of exposure for domestic poultry is assessed as medium, with high uncertainty, where biosecurity is suboptimal, and low, with medium uncertainty, where stringent measures are consistently applied. UKHSA continues to judge the risk to the general public as very low, and the Food Standards Agency advises that properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat.
Wild bird management guidance advises continued reporting of dead wild birds, use of site signage and adherence to the mitigation strategy for England and Wales to reduce ecological impacts while protecting public health. Under the AIPZ, feeding of wild gamebirds is prohibited within 500 metres of premises housing more than 500 poultry or captive birds, and gardeners should keep feeders and water baths clean.
Avian influenza viruses can infect mammals; such detections are notifiable in both wild and kept mammals. Veterinarians and laboratories must report suspected disease or detections of influenza A virus or antibodies in mammals to APHA via the country‑specific contact numbers published by government. Failure to report is an offence.
The legal basis for control measures includes the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 and subsequent amendments, the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) Orders, and the Exotic Disease (Amendment) Orders from 2018 to 2024. Defra’s contingency plan and the notifiable avian disease control strategy guide zoning, licensing and culling decisions.
For producers and smallholders, the immediate actions are practical: confirm whether your holding sits inside a newly declared zone, refresh biosecurity arrangements to align with the AIPZ declaration, tighten visitor and vehicle controls, and document any unusual mortality or production changes for rapid escalation to your veterinarian and APHA. Government will update guidance as the season evolves.