Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed at two further large commercial poultry premises in England, taking the total number of cases across the UK this season to 68.
The latest case was confirmed on 14 December at a large commercial poultry flock near Welton, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place, and all birds on the premises will be humanely culled.
This follows confirmation a day earlier, on 13 December, of H5N1 at a third premises near Newington, Swale, Kent. Disease control measures, including protection and surveillance zones, have also been declared there, with birds on site set to be culled.
Earlier in the week, on 8 December, the virus was detected at another large commercial poultry flock near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk, prompting the same control measures.
In addition to the commercial cases, avian influenza was confirmed on 6 December in a backyard flock of captive birds near Castle Hedingham, Braintree, Essex, where a 3km captive bird monitoring zone remains in place.
Meanwhile, several protection zones across England have been lifted following the successful completion of disease control and surveillance activities. In recent days, protection zones have ended around premises in Norfolk, Devon, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Suffolk and East Sussex, with those areas now forming part of wider surveillance zones or, in some cases, having restrictions fully revoked.
According to the latest official figures for the 2025–2026 outbreak season, there have now been 56 cases in England, including seven cases in Wales, four cases in Northern Ireland and one case in Scotland.
This brings the UK total to 68 confirmed cases of HPAI H5N1. Great Britain remains under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), with mandatory biosecurity measures in place. Housing measures are currently required in England and Wales, meaning keepers with more than 50 birds must keep them indoors, while smaller keepers may also be required to house birds depending on whether they sell eggs, poultry products or live birds.
The first cases of the current season were confirmed in October, and in line with international animal health rules, the UK is no longer classified as free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.