“We are now taking the difficult step to extend the housing measures to the whole of England,” UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said when the national order was introduced. As of Friday 19 December 2025, the order remains in place, with Defra confirming the protection zone near Feltwell (Norfolk) has ended while new outbreaks this week triggered controls near Brockworth in Gloucestershire and, earlier, near Welton in West Lindsey and a third site at Newington in Kent.

For keepers across the North, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) means housing is mandatory if you keep 50 or more birds of any species; backyard flocks under 50 kept solely for your own use need not be housed, but if you sell or give away eggs, products or live birds, housing applies. England moved to the national stance from 6 November after earlier targeted measures covered northern and central counties including North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear and West Yorkshire.

Control zones on our patch remain active. In Lincolnshire, West Lindsey carries a protection and surveillance zone around Welton, with further controls at Sudbrooke, a third site near Gainsborough and surveillance at Swineshead in the Boston district, plus a zone near Donington. In North Yorkshire, surveillance zones remain in place near Thirsk and Easingwold. All are listed as in force on the APHA register.

When disease is confirmed, authorities typically impose a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone, with strict movement licensing and on‑site culling at the infected premises. Temporary control zones can be set while tests are pending, and restrictions lift only after cleansing and surveillance are completed.

Fairs, sales and shows are tightly controlled. General licences currently allow gatherings of parrots, birds of prey and racing pigeons if you’re outside any disease control zone; gatherings of poultry and most other captive birds require a specific licence and cannot proceed inside control zones. Organisers must notify APHA at least seven days in advance.

Across the 2025/26 season so far, the UK has recorded 70 confirmed H5N1 cases: 57 in England, 7 in Wales, 2 in Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland. England’s first case this season was confirmed on 11 October, and under WOAH rules the UK is not currently free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Officials stress this is chiefly a disease of birds. UKHSA continues to assess the risk to the general public as very low, while the Food Standards Agency says properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat.

Vaccination of commercial poultry is not permitted in England; only zoos can apply for authorisation under strict criteria. Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate continue to monitor vaccine development via the cross‑government vaccination taskforce.

Members of the public and land managers are asked not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report findings through the government service. Defra’s mitigation strategy sets out signage and practical steps for nature reserves and coastal sites through winter.

Avian influenza of avian origin is also notifiable in mammals. Vets, laboratories and wildlife workers must report suspected or confirmed cases in wild or kept mammals to APHA immediately; failure to do so is an offence.

For keepers, the immediate jobs are familiar: refresh foot‑dips and disinfectant at all entry points, net off ponds and outside runs, separate ducks and geese from other birds, and keep tight movement records. APHA assesses the risk as very high for wild birds and very high for poultry where biosecurity is poor, falling to medium where robust biosecurity is consistently applied.

Defra says the housing order and AIPZ will remain in place until further notice and are kept under regular review. Before moving birds or planning festive sales, check the official map and the live case listings for your area.