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Publication - Factsheet

Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks

Last updated 3 May 2022 - see all updates
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Part of
Farming and rural

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

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ): whole of the UK

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was amended to include the requirement to house birds on 29 November 2021.

Following a recent risk assessment, the level of risk associated with the incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza to poultry, other captive birds and wild birds has been reduced.

Based on these reductions, and as part of a wider strategy for the phased lifting of the AIPZ, Scottish Ministers approved the removal of the mandatory housing measures from the AIPZ requirements.

From 00:01 on 2 May 2022, poultry and other captive birds are no longer required to be housed, unless they are in a Protection Zone or are under licence, or other restrictions, that require birds to be housed.

Keepers intending to allow their birds outside are advised to firstly prepare their outside areas for the safe release of their birds.

This preparation advice includes cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and the reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.

While the risk of bird flu has been reduced, the enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the AIPZ remain in force, as infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks.

Therefore, keepers are advised to maintain scrupulous biosecurity standards as housing measures are now lifted and to continue applying such standards as best practice.

All poultry gatherings currently prohibited will remain banned.

Cases and disease control zones

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in Scotland and in other parts of the UK. Restrictions and prevention measures are in place.

Check where disease control zones are currently located and if you are in a zone on the Animal and Plant Health Agency interactive map.

Near Strichen, Aberdeenshire

 

Surveillance Zone lifted near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Strichen, Aberdeenshire on 19 March 2022.

A 3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish Ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration

It should be noted that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Beith, North Ayrshire

 

Surveillance Zone lifted in North Ayrshire.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Beith, North Ayrshire on 18 March 2022.

A 3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish Ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Collieston, Aberdeenshire

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Collieston, Aberdeenshire on 11 March, 2022.

A Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration. 

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire on 22 January, 2022. This premises was deemed a “special category premises” due its non-commercial nature. As a result of this, and based on a veterinary risk assessment, no new disease control zones were applied.

Near Moffat, Dumfriesshire

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Moffat, Dumfriesshire on 10 December 2021.

A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Annan, Dumfriesshire

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Annan, Dumfriesshire on 9 December 2021.

A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Gretna, Dumfriesshire 

 

Premises 2

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a second premises near Gretna, Dumfriesshire on 15 December 2021.

This premises was deemed a “special category premises” due to its non-commercial nature. The premises also fell within an existing 3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 km Surveillance Zone (SZ), (which has since been revoked following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory disinfection) , and, as a result of this, and based on a veterinary risk assessment, no new disease control zones were applied.

Premises 1 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Gretna, Dumfriesshire on 3 December 2021 (see news release). 

A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Near Arbroath, Angus

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a premises near Arbroath, Angus on 4 November 2021.

A Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone and Restricted Zone were declared. Following completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection and mandatory surveillance requirements, Scottish ministers declared the end of these zones.

This means all zonal restrictions within this area have been lifted. Further information can be found in the Declaration. 

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK.

Other parts of Great Britain

 

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

Recent dead wild bird findings

The GB dead wild bird surveillance programme has identified cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a variety of wild bird species. 

They have been found in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Midlothian, Moray, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

All findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain are published weekly.

A map showing all HPAI cases is also available.

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 also:

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.

Bird gatherings

The Scottish bird gatherings general licence was amended to prohibit gatherings of specified species of birds. Changes took effect from 8 November 2021 at 00:01 hours.

This means gatherings are prohibited of:

  • kept galliformes (chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails and other land fowl)
  • kept anseriformes, (ducks, geese, swans and other water fowl)

Organisers of all gatherings are encouraged to ensure their gathering complies with the conditions of the bird gathering general licence.

First published
29 November 2021
Last updated
3 May 2022 - show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect latest position.

  2. Amended to reflect housing measures lifted.

  3. Updated section for near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

  4. Updated page to reflect current situation.

  5. Updated near Beith, North Ayrshire.

  6. Updated near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

  7. Updated Near Collieston, Aberdeenshire - end of Surveillance Zone.

  8. Accordion updated.

  9. Added warning text.

  10. Updated Near Collieston, Aberdeenshire - end of protection zone.

  11. Minor update to Beith outbreak information.

  12. Update to Strichen outbreak information to add links to interactive map and local Field Services Office.

  13. Location of latest outbreak changed from Beith to Strichen.

  14. Location of latest outbreak changed from Collieston to Beith.

  15. Location of latest outbreak changed from Ellon to Collieston.

  16. Added in link to news release for 11 March outbreak.

  17. Added section for Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

  18. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  19. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  20. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  21. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  22. Added link to rapid risk assessment for premises near Inverurie.

  23. Changes following confirmed case in premises near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

  24. Updated to reflect lifting of all Protection and Surveillance Zones.

  25. Updated section on Annan.

  26. Updated section on Moffat.

  27. Updated sections on Gretna.

  28. Updated section on Annan.

  29. Removed PZ references to Moffat case and added link to updated Declaration.

  30. Added map showing all HPAI cases.

  31. Changes following confirmed case near Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  32. Changes following confirmed case near Annan, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  33. Added info about recent reports of cases.

  34. Link to postcode tool added re reporting non-compliance.

  35. Updates reflect ending of surveillance zone in Angus.

  36. Changes following confirmed case near Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  37. Updated to reflect housing requirement.

  38. Updated to reflect surveillance zone in Angus.

  39. Updated to account for housing measures to be introduced across the UK

  40. Updated to add housing measures introduced into areas of England.

  41. Revised layout to make the page clearer.

  42. Updated to add information about case found in Frinton-on-Sea, Tendring, Essex

  43. Updated to add information about case found in Warwickshire.

  44. Updated to reflect latest position.

  45. Updated with information about bird gathering licence.

  46. Updated to reflect latest position.

  47. First published.

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