Animal health disease

Avian influenza or 'bird flu'

Commonly known as bird flu, avian influenza is a disease of birds which presents a very low risk to human health but a significant threat to the United Kingdom’s poultry industry and kept bird populations, in addition to posing a threat to natural biodiversity through its impacts on wild birds.

It’s vital that people who keep birds to continue to practice good biosecurity to prevent further outbreaks and their birds from becoming infected with this disease.

Latest Update

From 00:01 on Sunday 16 February 2025 the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) housing measures will be 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.

An avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) is in place across GB. This means that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers within the new zones to follow strict biosecurity measures and house their birds to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size.

For these reasons, the Aviary in Botanic Gardens, Southport, will be temporarily closed from Sunday 16th February.

Reporting suspected bird flu in poultry or captive birds

If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

It is imperative that all visitors to our coastline and parks follow the guidance below:

Do not pick up or touch dead or sick wild birds;
Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings;
Do not feed waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, etc)
Keep dogs on leads and avoid walking along the tide line;
Avoid dogs coming into contact with wild birds;
If you keep poultry or other birds, wash your hands, clean and disinfect footwear before tending to your birds.

We encourage anyone who sees a sick or dead bird on our coastline to report it to DEFRA,

either by visiting the designated webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds

or calling the helpline: 03459 335577.