Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks

Latest situation including current outbreaks and measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease.


Cases and disease control zones

You can check where disease control zones are located and if you are in a zone on the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) interactive map.

Restrictions apply if the whole or part of your premises falls within a zone. 

Vigilance by bird keepers is important and any suspicion of disease in Scotland must be reported immediately to the local APHA Field Services office.

Current outbreaks

There are no current outbreaks.

Previous outbreaks

A list of previous outbreaks is available.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Scotland was lifted on 4 July 2023. 

Other parts of Great Britain

HPAI H5N1 has also been confirmed in parts of England and Wales. Find out more at:

How to unsubscribe from receiving disease alerts 

If you have already subscribed to this service from APHA and no longer wish to receive these disease alerts, complete the information on the subscriptions page. You will then have the option to update your subscription. 

Bird keepers - what you should do

Good biosecurity

Good biosecurity improves the overall health and productivity of your flock by helping keep out poultry diseases and limiting the spread of disease during an outbreak.

If you keep poultry (including game birds or as pets), you should:

Keepers with over 500 birds

Keepers with more than 500 birds need to:

  • restrict access for non-essential personnel on their sites
  • ensure workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures
  • clean and disinfect site vehicles regularly to limit the risk of disease spreading

Small flocks

Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry, including chickens, ducks and geese must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals. This also applies if you only have a few birds as pets.

An outbreak of avian influenza in backyard poultry results in the same restrictions on movement of birds. It has the same impact on farmers and trade in poultry as an outbreak on a commercial farm would have. 

Read the small flock keepers guide to biosecurity for more information.

Dead bird and other wild mammal findings

Wild birds

Avian Influenza surveillance systems are in place for the reporting and monitoring of dead wild birds and certain species suspected of having been infected with avian influenza. Read more: How to report dead wild birds.

Other wild mammal findings

If you find a dead wild mammal, suspected of having been infected with avian influenza, note where you saw the dead animal and contact your local area NatureScot Office.

As with dead wild birds, if you find a dead animal of any species, please don’t pick it up. Carcasses may present health risks and are best left alone.

Posters for land managers and local authorities

Gov.uk has published posters for land managers and local authorities to warn the public that either bird flu has been detected in the area or to not risk spreading the virus.

Bird gatherings

Bird gatherings are permitted for all bird species in Scotland, England and Wales.

This includes gatherings of: 

  • kept galliformes (including pheasants, partridges, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl), and
  • kept anseriformes, (ducks, geese, swans and other water fowl)

Organisers should ensure their gathering complies with the conditions of the bird gathering general licence.

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