Bird flu: avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) (England)
England is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ).
England is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures.
Mandatory housing measures also apply in:
- Cheshire
- City of Kingston Upon Hull
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Herefordshire
- Lancashire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Shropshire
- Suffolk
- Worcestershire
- York
Case information
16 February 2025
From 00:01 on 16 February 2025 the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) housing measures have been extended to cover Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire in addition to the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.
The England wide AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity in all other counties remains in force.
The AIPZ measures apply to all bird keepers whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock and are essential to protecting flocks from avian influenza.
The AIPZ will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza.
Bird keepers should use the interactive map to check if they are in an area where they must house their birds and then read the AIPZ declaration schedule relevant to their area.
Past updates
27 January 2025
The AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity and housing for kept birds across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk was extended to also include the unitary authorities of Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.
25 January 2025
AIPZ without housing extended to cover the whole of England. Mandatory housing remains in force across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk.
23 December 2024
Regional AIPZ with mandatory biosecurity and housing measures declared in, the unitary authorities of the East Riding of Yorkshire, the City of Kingston upon Hull and across all districts in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
13 December 2024
Regional AIPZ without housing measures declared in the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Declarations
This revokes and replaces the following declaration from 00:01 on 16 February 2025:
This revokes and replaces the following declaration from 00:01 on 27 January 2025:
This revokes and replaces the following declaration from noon on 23 December 2024:
Exemption from housing measures
Keepers of anseriformes (such as ducks, geese, swans), ratites (such as ostriches and rheas) or poultry kept for restocking of game may be eligible for an exemption from AIPZ housing measures for welfare reasons. To apply for an exemption, complete an in consultation with your veterinarian.
Further information
Check the updated bird flu disease control zone map
Updates to this page
Published 13 December 2024Last updated 18 February 2025 + show all updates
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Updated the AIPZ housing measures exemption form.
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From 00:01 on 16 February 2025 the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) housing measures have been extended to cover Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire in addition to the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire. The England wide AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity in all other counties remains in force. The AIPZ measures apply to all bird keepers whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock and are essential to protecting flocks from avian influenza. The AIPZ will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza. Bird keepers should use the interactive map to check if they are in an area where they must house their birds and then read the AIPZ declaration schedule relevant to their area.
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Keepers of anseriformes (such as ducks, geese, swans), ratites (such as ostriches and rheas) or poultry kept for restocking of game may be eligible for an exemption from avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) housing measures for welfare reasons. Exemption application form added to page.
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In response to the escalating number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza and continued heightened risk levels to protect the health and welfare of flocks, the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) is being extended to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease. This means that from 00:01 on Monday 27 January the AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity and housing for kept birds currently in force across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk will be extended to also include the unitary authorities of Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire. In addition, an AIPZ mandating enhanced biosecurity but without mandatory housing will come into force from noon on Saturday 25 January across all other areas of England. The AIPZ measures apply to all bird keepers whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock and are essential to protecting flocks from avian influenza.
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There have been further findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry and other captive birds in Norfolk, the East Riding of Yorkshire and a further increase in the assessed risk of HPAI in wild birds and poultry. A regional avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity and housing measures has been declared in the unitary authorities of the East Riding of Yorkshire, the City of Kingston upon Hull and across all districts in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
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First published.