“Avian influenza can be devastating for poultry farmers and cause serious welfare issues for the birds in their care,” said UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss as mandatory housing returned for parts of England. The order follows a sharp rise in confirmed H5N1 cases this week.

From 00:01 on Thursday 30 October, bird keepers across much of northern England - including Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West and North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland - must keep birds indoors if they have more than 50 of any species, or if they sell or give away eggs or poultry products. Small keepers with fewer than 50 birds for their own use are not required to house, but everyone remains under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with strict biosecurity.

Cumberland has a live incident near Silloth, where H5N1 was confirmed in captive birds on 30 October. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone is in force and affected birds will be humanely culled. Farmers on the Solway and around Wigton have been urged to check restrictions on Defra’s map before moving stock or supplies.

Fresh cases were confirmed on 1 November at major poultry units near Honington in West Suffolk and near Donington in South Holland, Lincolnshire. Each site now has a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone, with culling on the premises.

That follows 31 October confirmations at large units near Ormesby St Margaret (Norfolk), Uckfield (East Sussex) and Swineshead (Lincolnshire), alongside earlier Northern cases announced through October in Cumbria and Yorkshire. As of 1 November, the UK tally for this season stands at 19 confirmed H5N1 cases: 15 in England, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. Scotland has none so far.

Wales has declared 3km and 10km zones around a second infected premises near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, with culling to proceed under the direction of the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales. For cross‑border businesses trading into Welsh plants, the same licensing checks apply.

What changes day‑to‑day on Northern farms is practical but important: keep feed and bedding inside; disinfect footwear, kit and vehicles; cut unnecessary movements on and off the holding; and keep disinfectant at entrances. In the housing areas, eligible keepers must bring birds under cover until further notice.

Movements of birds, eggs and by‑products in and out of disease control zones may need licensing. Bird gatherings are off‑limits for most poultry in housing‑order areas, though gatherings of other captive birds are possible under general licence outside control zones. Always check the live map before arranging collections or markets.

Public health agencies stress this is primarily a disease of birds. UKHSA assesses the risk to the general public as very low, and the Food Standards Agency says properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat. Households feeding garden birds should keep feeders and water baths clean.

Game managers in AIPZ areas should avoid feeding wild gamebirds within 500 metres of any premises holding more than 500 birds, and walkers are asked not to touch dead or sick wild birds - report them instead via official channels. Landowners can download APHA posters to warn visitors when needed.

Vets and keepers should also be aware that influenza of avian origin in mammals is notifiable. Suspected or detected cases in wild or kept mammals must be reported immediately to APHA using the published contact routes for England, Wales and Scotland.

One practical piece of relief for producers this winter: Defra changed the Poultry Meat Marketing Regulations in April so free‑range poultry meat can stay labelled as free‑range during housing periods, removing the old 12‑week limit and helping businesses keep customer confidence.