Confirmed findings of influenza of avian origin in non-avian wildlife
Updated 21 March 2025
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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Confirmed findings of avian influenza in non-avian wildlife in 2025
| Week number carcass collected and location | Strain | Number of animals found positive for influenza of avian origin | Species involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9: North Norfolk, England [Note 1] | H5N5 HPAI | 13 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 8: Highland, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 7: North Norfolk, England [Note 1] | H5N5 HPAI | 2 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
Note 1: findings in grey seals in North Norfolk
Following the initial detection of avian species (great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus)) and two grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) testing positive for high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N5 at Blakeney point, Norfolk in February 2025, further sampling was undertaken by the avian influenza national reference laboratory in collaboration with APHA’s Diseases of Wildlife Scheme to establish the broader impact of the virus on seals and birds in that location.
A total of 40 seal carcasses were sampled from the site and from that 37.5% (n=15) tested positive for HPAIV H5N5.
These animals are part of a well-established pinniped colony in Norfolk. Mortality noted at this seal colony was below the expected baseline of 10% during pupping and sampling efforts in seals were triggered following the observation of a mortality event in gulls that also tested positive for HPAIV.
The sequence generating from positive seal samples included a mammalian adaptive mutation (E627K) in one gene (PB2) but this mutation has been observed in numerous positive samples from mammals detected previously both in Great Britain and globally, and in isolation isn’t considered to represent an increase in zoonotic risk.
It is likely the animals were exposed to the same source of infected wild birds.
We cannot determine with certainty whether influenza of avian origin was the sole cause of death in these wild animals, and it is possible other factors may have contributed. All findings are also reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Confirmed findings of avian influenza virus in non-avian wildlife in 2024
There were no findings of influenza of avian origin in non-avian wildlife in 2024.
Confirmed findings of avian influenza virus in non-avian wildlife in 2023
| Week number carcass collected and location | Strain | Number of animals found positive for influenza of avian origin | Species involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8: Devon, England | H5 HPAI | 1 | Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) |
| 8: Pembrokeshire, Wales | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) |
| 8: Shropshire, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 6: East Riding of Yorkshire, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) |
| 5: Perth and Kinross, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 4: Powys, Wales | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 3: Salisbury, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 2: Durham, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
Confirmed findings of avian influenza virus in non-avian wildlife in 2022
| Week number carcass collected and location | Strain | Number of animals found positive for influenza of avian origin | Species involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40: Cornwall, England (1 of 2) | H5 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 40: Cornwall, England (2 of 2) | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 39: Cornwall, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 38: Cornwall, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 37: Cornwall, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |
| 35: Cornwall, England | H5N1 HPAI | 2 | Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 30: Fife, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
| 29: Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 24: Orkney, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
| 23: Shetland Islands, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 21: Nottinghamshire, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 11: Fife, Scotland (1 of 2) | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 11: Fife, Scotland (2 of 2) | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
| 10: Highland, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) |
| 10: Cheshire East, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 2: Cumbria, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) |
Confirmed findings of avian influenza virus in non-avian wildlife in 2021
| Week number carcass collected and location | Strain | Number of animals found positive for influenza of avian origin | Species involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49: Durham, England | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
| 42: Aberdeenshire, Scotland | H5N1 HPAI | 1 | Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) |