New bird flu cases confirmed as UK remains on high alert

Fresh cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 have been confirmed in England and Scotland within 48 hours of each other, marking a February cluster that keeps the UK poultry sector on high alert.

On 14 February, Defra confirmed H5N1 at a premises near Ancroft, Northumberland.

A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been established around the site to limit the risk of further spread.

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Two days earlier, on 12 February, H5N1 was confirmed at a second premises in a backyard flock near Penicuik, Midlothian.

A 3km protection zone was declared, although following a veterinary risk assessment, some of the standard protection zone measures were not applied.

Bfrepa view

Gary Ford, head of strategy at the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (Bfrepa), said that although there have been several cases in the past week, the last three occurred in back yard or non-commercial poultry.

“While the picture is improving, it leaves behind an extremely challenging period for the UK, where since the start of this ‘season’ [1 October 2025], just over 3.8 million commercial birds have been lost to this dreadful disease,” he added.

Mr Ford stressed that poultry keepers must maintain “stringent biosecurity as we are still in very challenging times.”

Large-scale businesses hit

The latest detections follow a series of significant cases earlier this year near Needham Market and Bacton in Suffolk, alongside multiple outbreaks around Penicuik that have affected several large-scale poultry enterprises.

In Penicuik alone, H5N1 was confirmed on 11 January in a flock of 205,000 pullets.

This was followed by a further case on 15 January involving 600,000 free-range layers, and again on 24 January in a flock of 500,000 free-range layers.

While outbreak numbers remain below the peak levels seen in some previous seasons, the emergence of multiple cases within days of each other underlines continued viral circulation in both wild birds and kept flocks.

Alongside the new outbreaks, several disease control zones elsewhere have been lifted after successful surveillance and cleansing operations.

Protection and surveillance zones around premises in Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Cambridgeshire and Nottinghamshire have now been revoked.

A 3km protection zone near York ended on 13 February and has reverted to surveillance status.

Britain remains under a nationwide avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ), with mandatory housing measures still in force in England and Wales.

Bird gatherings of poultry, galliform and anseriform birds (ducks, geese, chickens, etc) remain banned.

For the 2025-26 season to date, 94 cases of HPAI H5N1 have been confirmed across the UK, alongside one low pathogenic case in England.

Reporting suspected cases

The risk level in wild birds remains very high, with poultrykeepers urged to maintain stringent biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately.

Suspected cases of avian influenza must be reported in England to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268, and in Scotland, contact the local Field Services Office.