H5N1 in England: rules and how to report, 15 Jan

Bird flu is not just a headline; if you keep a few hens, help with school chickens or feed garden birds, it changes your routine. As of Thursday 15 January 2026, Defra confirms Great Britain remains in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Here’s the plain‑English update and what you can do today to protect birds and reassure your household.

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza that mainly affects birds. The UK Health Security Agency says the risk to the general public’s health is very low, and the Food Standards Agency says properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat. Those two statements are the foundation for calm, careful action rather than panic.

England saw a significant development this week. On 13 January 2026, HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a second large commercial poultry flock near York in North Yorkshire (AIV 2026/05). A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone now apply around the premises, and all poultry on site will be humanely culled as a containment step overseen by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

There have also been step‑downs where control work has succeeded. On 15 January the 10km surveillance zone near Hallow, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire (AIV 2025/94) was revoked. On 13 January the captive bird monitoring controlled zone near Dawlish, Teignbridge, Devon (AIV 2025/101) was revoked.

Earlier in the week, the surveillance zone near Alford, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (AIV 2025/92) was revoked on 12 January. On 11 January the protection zone near Woodbridge in Suffolk (AIV 2025/97) ended and its area merged into the surrounding surveillance zone, and the captive bird monitoring zone near Burscough, West Lancashire (AIV 2025/66) was revoked. On 10 January the protection zone near Alford ended and became part of the surveillance zone. These changes reflect surveillance results and cleansing and disinfection milestones signed off by officials.

Scotland has confirmed a separate incident. On 11 January 2026, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland reported HPAI in a commercial flock near Penicuik, Scottish Borders (AIV 2026/004). A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are in place, and birds on the premises will be humanely culled. Keepers in Scotland should follow Scottish Government updates alongside Defra notices.

Housing measures remain in force for England and Wales under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Since 6 November 2025 in England, and 13 November 2025 in Wales, you must house birds if you keep 50 or more. If you keep fewer than 50 solely for your own use, housing is not required, but strict biosecurity still applies. If you keep fewer than 50 and sell or give away eggs, birds or poultry products, you must house them because they are classed as poultry in trade. Scotland remains in the AIPZ but sets its own housing decisions; check the national guidance if you are north of the border.

To understand your exact obligations, check the official bird flu disease zone map and then follow the rules for your zone. Before moving poultry, eggs, by‑products or certain mammals from affected premises, check whether a movement licence is required. The safest approach is to assume you need permission until you confirm otherwise on the GOV.UK guidance.

Where are we in the season? The 2025–2026 outbreak season runs from 1 October to 30 September. So far there have been 69 confirmed HPAI H5N1 cases in England, 6 in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 4 in Northern Ireland, making 86 across the UK. First confirmations this season were 9 October in Northern Ireland, 11 October in England, 25 October in Wales and 12 November in Scotland. Under World Organisation for Animal Health rules, the UK is not currently classed as free of HPAI.

Risk levels help you plan your day‑to‑day. Officials assess the risk of H5 in wild birds across Great Britain as very high, meaning it almost certainly occurs. For poultry, the risk of exposure is high where biosecurity is poor, and medium where stringent measures are applied consistently. In practice that means small lapses-an uncovered feeder or a shared bucket-can undo a lot of careful work.

Here is what good biosecurity looks like in plain English. Keep feed and water under cover and out of reach of wild birds. Clean and disinfect boots, tools and crates before and after contact with birds. Limit visitors and keep a simple log of who comes onto the holding. Use dedicated clothing for bird care and keep disinfectant footbaths at entry points. A tidy yard and routine hand‑washing still matter.

Bird gatherings are tightly controlled to reduce mixing between flocks. If you are outside any disease control zone in England, you can hold gatherings of parrots, birds of prey and racing pigeons under a general licence if you meet its conditions. Gatherings of chickens and turkeys, ducks and geese, most pigeons, songbirds and ratites require a specific licence. If your premises falls inside a protection or surveillance zone, gatherings are not permitted.

Wild birds need care from a distance. Do not touch or move dead or sick wild birds; report them using the government’s ‘Report dead wild birds’ service. Wash your hands thoroughly if you contact bird faeces or feathers. If you feed garden birds, the British Trust for Ornithology advises cleaning feeders and water baths regularly. In an AIPZ, you must not feed wild gamebirds within 500 metres of premises with more than 500 birds.

Avian influenza viruses can infect mammals. In the UK, influenza of avian origin in mammals is notifiable in both wild and kept animals. Vets and labs must report immediately if they suspect infection, detect influenza A virus or find antibodies. The reporting lines are 03000 200 301 for England, 03003 038 268 for Wales, and via the local Field Services Office in Scotland. Failing to report is breaking the law.

On vaccination, here is the current position. You cannot vaccinate poultry or most captive birds against bird flu in England. Zoos can apply for authorisation if they meet eligibility criteria, and decisions are made by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate continue to fund research and monitor vaccine development through the avian influenza vaccination taskforce.

If you are teaching this topic, try a quick inquiry task with your group. Compare the official wild‑bird findings maps with the weekly surveillance reports and the outbreak epidemiology summaries. Ask learners where migration routes and poultry production overlap, and why housing and biosecurity are preferred to routine vaccination in farm settings right now.

What this means this week is straightforward. As of 15 January 2026, new protection and surveillance zones surround the confirmed case near York, several English zones have been revoked after successful control work, and Scotland has imposed zones near Penicuik. If you keep birds, house them where required, check your zone today, refresh biosecurity and report sick or dead wild birds without handling them.

For further reading on GOV.UK, look for ‘Bird flu: how to prevent it and stop it spreading’, ‘Avian influenza: spot and report’, ‘Report dead wild birds’, ‘Housing your birds safely’, ‘Bird gatherings in England’, the risk and outbreak assessments, and the webinars aimed at smallholders and commercial keepers. These pages are written by Defra, UKHSA, APHA and partners and are updated as the situation develops.