Bird flu is back in Britain: two cases, two viruses

Key numbers

• 2cases confirmed in Great Britain this season, with two different viruses
• 2 Oct 2026H5N5 in a backyard flock at Ness, on the Isle of Lewis. Great Britain lost its bird-flu-free status.
• 19 Oct 2026H5N1 in commercial poultry near Belford, Northumberland. The flock is being culled.
• 3 km, 10 kmthe protection zone and the surveillance zone around the Belford case
• Mediumrisk for wild birds
• Lowrisk for poultry where biosecurity is suboptimal or poor
• Very lowrisk for poultry with stringent biosecurity
• 6 Nov 2025last season, every poultry keeper in England had to house their birds from this date

Source: GOV.UK, Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England, updated 21 October 2026. Both poultry risk levels carry high uncertainty. Last season's housing date: GOV.UK, 4 November 2025.

What it means for keepers

• Keep your birds away from wild birds and standing water.
• Check them every day. Report anything unusual.
• Keep biosecurity tight. Where it is stringent, GOV.UK rates the risk to poultry very low.

Inside the Belford zones

From the declaration of 19 October 2026. The first rule applies in the 3 km protection zone, the rest in both zones.

• Protection zone: birds must be housed or isolated.
• Most moves of birds, eggs or litter need a licence.
• No fairs, shows or other bird gatherings.
• Record visitors, and cleanse and disinfect vehicles.
• Immediately report more sickness, deaths or fewer eggs.

Isolation applies only where a veterinary inspector directs it. The declaration has the full rules and exceptions. In the video the rings are drawn around Belford village as a guide only.

Sources

1. GOV.UK, Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England (opens in a new tab), updated 21 October 2026
2. GOV.UK, Bird flu: near Belford, North Northumberland, Northumberland (AIV2026/21) (opens in a new tab), 19 October 2026
3. Defra, Declaration of a Protection Zone and a Surveillance Zone, near Belford (AIV 2026/21), PDF (opens in a new tab), 19 October 2026
4. GOV.UK, National Housing Order declared to protect poultry from Avian Influenza (opens in a new tab), 4 November 2025
5. Farmers Weekly, Birds ordered inside in England as avian flu escalates (last season's timeline) (opens in a new tab), 4 November 2025

The map in the video uses Natural Earth data (public domain).

OutbreakLens is an educational summary of public data, made in a personal capacity. It is not veterinary, trade or official advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government body. Always check the primary source.

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