UK Declared Bird Flu-Free

It has been more than three months since the last outbreak of avian influenza, but keepers are being warned not to let their guard down as winter approaches

The UK has met the international requirements to be called bird flu-free, but the Government’s  top vet has urged all poultry keepers to remain vigilant.

Between December 2016 and June 2017, there were 13 cases of H5N8 avian influenza confirmed in UK poultry. Restrictions on movement put in place by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, coupled with nationwide measures to protect captive birds from wild birds, helped to limit the spread of the disease. The last case was confirmed on 2 June, with cleansing and disinfection completed on 14 June and the requisite three months without further infection elapsed.