Bird flu: All poultry and captive birds to be kept indoors in England 'until further notice'

Orders to keep all poultry and captive birds indoors will be extended to the whole of England amid the UK’s largest ever outbreak of bird flu.

The mandatory housing measures will come into force across England from midnight on November 7.

The UK's chief veterinary officer is giving birdkeepers one week to prepare to house their creatures indoors before the rules become a legal requirement next Monday.

More than 200 cases of avian influenza – also known as bird flu – have been confirmed in the UK since late October 2021.

The disease has been detected at more than 70 premises since the beginning of October, as well as multiple reports in wild birds.

The chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, who is encouraging all birdkeepers to use this week to prepare, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consulting their private vet and expanding housing where necessary.

Earlier in October, mandatory housing measures were introduced in what the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) described as “hot spot” areas of Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex.

Dr Middlemiss said the decision to extend the measure across the country was not taken lightly “but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease”.

The UK Health Security Agency has advised the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advice remains unchanged, stating that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

Dr Middlemiss 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.”

Defra said housing birds, combined with stringent biosecurity measures can provide greater reduction in risk.

Birdkeepers have been advised to report suspicion of disease in their birds to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on 03000 200 301.

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