Full list of areas where 'highly pathogenic' bird flu has been detected in UK (2025)

A government map has revealed where strict bird flu prevention measures are in force across the UK

Bird flu prevention zones remain in place across England, Scotland and Wales following a string of bird flu outbreaks in both wild birds and commercial poultry – and even a rare confirmed case in sheep.

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, are rising across multiple areas of the UK, with new cases reported daily and dozens of areas across the country on high alert.

It comes after bird flu was detected in sheep for the first time. On March 24, the government announced a case of avian influenza was found in a single sheep on a farm in Yorkshire where bird flu had been confirmed in captive birds.

The government introduced strict measures to curb the spread of the H5N1 virus following a surge in bird flu cases in wild birds. The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was ordered to cover the whole of England by the UK Chief Veterinary Officer on January 25.

Later that week (January 27), a rare human case of bird flu was confirmed in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the person in the West Midlands was infected after “close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds” on a farm.

Health officials have said the risk of bird flu to the general public remains "very low", but birdkeepers are required to be vigilant and take action to prevent further spread of the virus.

Birdkeepers in the prevention zones must follow strict biosecurity measures to help to reduce further outbreaks. Measures include thorough cleaning of bird housing and equipment and preventing contact between wild and captive birds.

Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) maps reveal a number of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) protection and surveillance zones across the UK after bird flu outbreaks have been identified.

Mandatory housing AIPZs, a biosecurity measure that requires all poultry and captive birds to be kept indoors, cover large areas across England. These include:

• Cheshire
• City of Kingston Upon Hull
• East Riding of Yorkshire
• Herefordshire
• Lancashire
• Lincolnshire
• Merseyside
• Norfolk
• North Yorkshire
• Shropshire
• Suffolk
• Worcestershire
• York

The first case of H5N1 bird flu in England during the current outbreak was confirmed on November 17, 2024. In Scotland, the first case was found on January 10, 2025 and in Northern Ireland this date was February 12, 2025. No cases of the highly pathogenic avian flu have been confirmed in Wales during the outbreak.

According to APHA maps, recent outbreaks have been detected in poultry or captive birds at premises in the following locations:

• Romsey, Hampshire – confirmed on March 29
• Wymondham, Norfolk – confirmed on March 28
• Fownhope, Herefordshire – confirmed on February 25
• Kington, Herefordshire – confirmed on March 4
• Wem, Shropshire – confirmed on January 20
• Malpas, Cheshire – confirmed on March 28
• Market Weighton (multiple control zones in place) – confirmed on February 5
• Pocklington, Yorkshire – confirmed on February 7
• Driffield, Yorkshire – confirmed on February 26
• Pickering, North Yorkshire – confirmed on March 30
• Thirsk (multiple control zones in place) – confirmed on March 27
• Lazonby, Cumbria – confirmed on March 29
• Blaydon, Durham – confirmed on March 27
• Daviot, Scotland – confirmed on March 18

After the virus was found to have infected sheep, Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at the UKHSA, said the H5N1 strain of avian flu has "future pandemic" potential, and that the agency is monitoring it closely.

Pebody said the virus is “not new” but its features have changed in recent years. Speaking at the UKHSA's annual conference in Manchester on March 25, he said: “H5N1 has the potential to become a pandemic, a future pandemic.

“And so that’s why we’re watching that so closely and managing it so closely.”