Avian Flu Diary: Defra: UK Reports 1st H5N1 Outbreak of the Season

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While most of the reported HPAI H5 activity has come from the United States and Canada this fall, we are beginning to see signs of increased activity on the other side of the Atlantic.

Earlier this month the UK - which last reported an outbreak of HPAI H5 last February - reported an outbreak of HPAI H5N5 in commercial poultry. Similarly, 2 days ago Norway Reported their 1st Outbreak of HPAI H5N5 In Domesticated Birds.

Late yesterday, the UK reported their first outbreak of HPAI H5N1 since last winter, in a commercial farm in Cornwall. This from Defra:

17 November 2024
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, St. Ives, Cornwall. All poultry on the infected premises will be humanely culled. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place surrounding the premises.
Further to the recent detections of HPAI H5N5 in both wild and kept birds in England, this is the first confirmation of HPAI H5N1 in kept birds this season and follows recent detections of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds both in the South West of England and in continental Europe.
Check if you’re in a bird flu disease zone on the map.
If you’re in a bird flu disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone and check if you need a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals.
Practicing good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of your birds and for commercial keepers will help protect your business from HPAI and other diseases.
Find out what you can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading and how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds.
New registration requirements for bird keepers in Great Britain
On 19 March the government announced new measures to help protect the poultry sector from bird flu.

All bird flu cases and disease control zones
The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 of the current outbreak was confirmed in England on the 5 November 2024.
The first case of HPAI H5N1 of the current outbreak was confirmed in England on the 17 November 2024.
Whilst there have been no cases of HPAI confirmed in Wales or Scotland during this outbreak. In line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules, Great Britain is no longer free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
No cases of HPAI have been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season and Northern Ireland continues to have WOAH self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Earlier this month Defra released a report on recent HPAI activity in Europe, showing a slow, but steady rise in reports since early October.

Between 30 October 2024 and 6 November 2024, there were a total of 68 HPAI H5 events reported by WOAH in domestic poultry, captive birds and non-poultry including wild birds across Europe. The majority of these occurred in central and eastern Europe. In total, there were 71 reports on WOAH in wild birds. These were seen mainly in gulls, geese and swans.

Compared to previous years (see ECDC/EFSA chart below), Europe has enjoyed a sharp reduction in HPAI outbreaks over the past 12 months.