AVIAN INFLUENZA has spread across Europe and Great Britain fast over this winter.

We have created a resource that should offer poultry farmers and others an overview of the situation, from cases to restrictions currently in place.

This is a live website, and data will be updated as soon as is possible.

Contents

• Overview
• Support
• Latest Defra Assessments
• Confirmed Cases in the UK
• Restrictions in Place

Overview

The general threat level that avian influenza presents has changed in recent years.

Where previously outbreaks were concentrated in one winter every three-to-four years, pressure from the virus is returning more regularly and for longer periods.

The AI ‘season’ can now be considered up to 30 weeks over the winter.

Furthermore, there has been increasing evidence of the virus persisting in non-migratory wild birds over the summer, meaning the risk can remain year-round.

This year, the first cases of avian influenza were confirmed in the last week of October – a week earlier than last year.

There is currently an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in place across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. An AIPZ makes high levels of biosecurity a legal requirement.  

On 24 November, the four nations of the UK declared a housing order to come into force on 29 November. This means that poultry keepers must keep birds indoors.

The risk of incursion of highly pathogenic (HPAI) avian influenza H5 in wild birds has increased from high (event occurs often) to very high (with low uncertainty) for England and high (with high uncertainty) for Wales and Scotland for wild birds.

The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 across Great Britain has changed from medium (with medium uncertainty) to medium (with low uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied, but has increased to high (with low uncertainty) where there are substantial biosecurity breaches and poor biosecurity. If, however, stringent biosecurity is in place the risk would be low for these premises.

Support

It is understandable, during these times, to feel an increase in stress or anxiety.

There are a number of rural charities and support networks that can offer help to those in need.
If you are struggling or know someone who is, know that you are not alone and the below helplines are here to support:

Please see below on some information and contact details.
·       FCN: 03000 111 999
·       RABI: 0808 281 9490
·       DPJ Foundation: 0800 587 4262
·       YANA: 0300 3230 400

RABI has created an online farming community where you can access free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support from any device – Online wellbeing support and counselling for farming people.

Farmwell has also published useful personal resilience guidance.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund has a list of Farm Support Groups, local organisations and charities working across the UK, supporting people working in agriculture and rural communities

Latest Defra Risk Assessments (External Links)

• 28 February 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 21 February 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 14 February 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 7 February 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 24 January 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 17 January 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 10 January 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 4 January 2022: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 20 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 13 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 6 December 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• 29 November 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK, and Europe
• Scientific Opinion on the effectiveness of a housing order and Risk Assessment for GB.
• 10 November 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK and Europe
• November 2021: Rapid risk assessment on incursion of H5Nx HPAI into housed or not housed poultry flocks and captive birds
• November 2021: Qualitative risk assessment on the likelihood of spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5Nx) associated with bird fairs, shows, markets, sales and other gatherings
• 2 November 2021: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK, and Europe

Confirmed Cases in the UK

• A premises near Redgrave, Suffolk
• A premises near Westhorpe, Suffolk
• A premises near Ledbury, Herefordshire
• A premises near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
• A premises near Welshpool, Powys
• A premises near Newtown, Powys
• A premises near Grimsby, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Wooler, Northumberland
• A premises near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
• A premises near Fakenham, Norfolk
• A premises near Bishops Waltham, Hampshire
• A premises near Ashleworth, Gloucestershire
• A premises near Calveley, Cheshire
• A premises near Whitby, North Yorkshire
• A premises near Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
• A premises near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
• A premises near Crewe, Cheshire
• A premises near Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
• A premises near Tarporley, Cheshire
• A premises near Tattenhall, Cheshire
• A premises near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway
• A premises near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Upholland, West Lancashire, Lancashire.
• A premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Lazonby, Eden, Cumbria
• A tenth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A non-commercial premises near Eton, Maidenhead & Windsor, Berkshire
• A premises near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire 
• A premises near Mablethorpe, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Romsey, Test Valley, Hampshire.
• A premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Watlington, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk
• A premises near Buckfastleigh, Teignbridge
• A second premises near Helsby, Cheshire
• A premises near Ballinderry, County Londonderry
• A premises near Helsby, Cheshire
• A ninth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• An eighth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A seventh premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A ninth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• A sixth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Market Bosworth, Hinckley and Bosworth, Leicestershire
• A premises near Wem, North Shropshire, Shropshire
• A second premises near Pocklington, East Yorkshire
• A fourth and fifth premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, Durham
• A premises in Coagh, County Tyrone
• A second and third premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
• A premises near Washington, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
• A second premises near Willington, South Derbyshire, Derbyshire
• A premises near Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway
• A premises near Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire
• A premises near Clifford, Hereford and South Herefordshire, Herefordshire
• A premises near Annan, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
• A premises near Aspatria, Allerdale, Cumbria
• An eighth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• A premises near Sudbury, Babergh, South Suffolk
• A fourth premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire
• A third premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire
• A premises near Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
• A premises near Pocklington, East Yorkshire
• A seventh premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• Premises near Broughshane, Co. Antrim
• Premises near Newent, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
• Premises near Richmond, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
• Premises near Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (premises in Scotland but the Surveillance Zone extends into England)
• Premises near Leominster, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire
• A premises in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
• Premises near Tutbury, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
• A sixth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• A second premesis near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire
• A fifth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• A fourth premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire
• Premises near Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Lancashire
• Premises near Gaerwen, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
• Premises near Poulton le Flyde, Wyre, Lancashire (H5N1)
• A third premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (H5N1)
• Premises near Barrow upon Soar, Charnwood, Leicestershire (HPAI H5N1)
• A second premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (HPAI H5N1)
• A second premises near Leeming Bar, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk, Norfolk. (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near North Fambridge, Maldon, Essex (H5N1)
• Premises near Mouldsworth, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire (H5N1)
• Premises near Silecroft, Copeland, Cumbria (H5N1)
• Premises near Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (H5N1)
• Premises near Willington, South Derbyshire, Derbyshire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Kirkham, Fylde, Lancashire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Leeming Bar, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Salwick, Fylde, Lancashire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Salwick, Fylde, Lancashire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Frinton-on-Sea, Tendring, Essex (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Alcester, Bidford, Warwickshire (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Chirk, Wrexham, Wales (HPAI H5N1)
• Premises near Droitwich Spa, Wychavon, Worcestershire – captive birds (non-poultry) (HPAI H5N1) 

Restrictions in Place

Since 3 November, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been in place in England, Wales and Scotland. An AIPZ was declared in Northern Ireland on 17 November.

AIPZs make biosecurity measures a legal requirement, and are the precursor to a full housing order.

Will a housing order be declared?

From 8.30 pm on 21 November 2021, an avian influenza prevention zone was declared in parts of North Yorkshire in England, namely the districts of Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire.

This means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in that area to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

On 24 November, the four nations of the UK declared a housing order to come into force on 29 November.