A bird flu prevention zone has been declared for the whole of England and Scotland to contain the rising number of cases recorded since last year.
The zone will enforce strict hygiene standards around domesticated birds, including pets and commercial flocks.
Even stricter measures, requiring all birds to be housed in enclosures, will be enforced in some counties in eastern England on Monday.
There have been 22 cases of bird flu confirmed in England since the start of 2024, most of which occurred in the east.
While the spread of the disease, which is also referred to as avian influenza, threatens the health and welfare of birds, the risk to humans remains low, with chicken and eggs still safe to eat if properly cooked, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across England is in place from noon on Saturday until further notice and will require bird owners to conduct enhanced biosecurity measures.
These include:
Keeping free range birds in fenced areas or indoors to minimize contact with wild birds Providing food and water undercover so wild birds cannot access it Cleaning and disinfecting footwear before and after accessing the birds Keeping ducks and geese separate from other poultryUK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss has urged bird keepers to “exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency”.
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Read MoreAled Edwards, Head of England Field Delivery at the Animal Plant Health Agency, said: “The introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means regardless of the number of birds you keep, you are required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.
“Scientists, vets and field teams from the Animal and Plant Health Agency are working hard to help tackle the spread of avian influenza and ensure bird keepers are kept up to date and supported.”
A housing order requiring birds to be kept in enclosures in coastal counties from Suffolk to East Riding of Yorkshire which came into force in mid-December has also been extended.
From Monday, the order will also include Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.
A 3km protection zone has been put in place around infected premises, which are also required to house all birds.
An AIPZ was also enforced in Scotland after an increase in the number avian influenza cases in wild and captive birds.
Scotland’s Deputy Chief Vet Officer Jesus Gallego said: “While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion from this virus and so it is vital that appropriate precautions are taken to protect poultry and other captive birds from infection.
“The introduction of this zone is a preventative measure, aimed at minimising the effect that this, often devastating virus, can have on Scottish kept birds.”
A Welsh government spokesperson said there were currently no confirmed cases in Wales, but added it was “closely monitoring the situation in England” and the need for its own AIPZ “is kept under constant review”.
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