The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is no longer in place from 4 July 2023.
Avian influenza control zones
Current cases and control measures in place
Follow the links for guidance on the restrictions affecting each case of avian influenza.
To find out if your premises is within one of these zones, see the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s interactive map.
The risk to public health from the virus is very low.
Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
How to report cases
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds, but report them to Defra.
Latest updates
Know the latest risk to your poultry and pet birds and steps you must take.
Latest update from Welsh Government - link opens a new tab
Clinical signs
The following clinical signs may be present:
- swollen head
- blue discolouration of the neck and throat
- loss of appetite
- respiratory distress such as: gaping beak, coughing/sneezing, gurgling
- diarrhoea
- fewer eggs laid
- increased mortality
Register poultry (including game birds)
You should register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so APHA can contact you during an outbreak. This is a legal requirement if you have 50 or more birds.
Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.
Got to GOV.UK for information on registering poultry and game birds
Biosecurity advice
All bird keepers are urged to maintain high levels of biosecurity; whether you have a few pet birds, or if you have a large commercial flock.
To ensure high levels of biosecurity, all poultry keepers should:
- minimise movement of people in and out of bird enclosures
- clean and disinfect footwear using a government approved disinfectant, and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy
- ensure the areas where birds are kept are not attractive to wild birds, for example, by netting ponds and by removing access to food sources
- keep your birds separate to and without access to areas where especially geese, ducks and gulls are present
- feed and water your birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds
- clean and disinfect vehicles and equipment that have come into contact with poultry, and reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas
- keep a close watch on birds for any signs of disease and report any sick birds or unexplained deaths to your vet or APHA