A national order requiring all poultry and captive birds to be kept indoors is set to be introduced from next week as the UK faces its largest ever outbreak of bird flu. The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer has made a decision following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to 'very high'.
From 00:01 on Monday, November 7, all bird keepers in England must keep their birds indoors and follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease - regardless of type or size. The mandatory housing measures have already been in place in the hotspot areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex, but the order will be extended throughout the whole of England.
The UK has been battling the largest ever outbreak of avian influenza, with more than 200 cases confirmed since late October 2021. The introduction of the housing measures comes after the disease was detected at over 70 premises since the beginning of October, as well as multiple reports in wild birds.
The Chief Veterinary Officer is now encouraging all bird keepers across England to use the next week to prepare, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their private vet and expand housing where necessary.
Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer, said: "We are now facing this year, the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England. The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.
"Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from Monday 7 November onwards you must keep your indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease."
Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other mammals. Evidence shows that housing birds reduces the risk of kept birds being infected with bird flu.
As well as keeping birds inside, keepers also need to follow other strict measures to protect their flock and help prevent any further outbreaks, including restricting access for non-essential people on site, ensuring workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading. They must also prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas.
The UK Health Security Agency says the risk to public health is still "very low" and properly cooked poultry and poultry products - like eggs - are safe to eat. You can find more information about bird flu at www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu.
