Image source: S.Reay, 2025, A Common wood pigeon sat on a lamp post
The Department for Environment , Food & Rural Affairs has announced an extension of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) following recent rises in the number of cases of avian influenza (bird flu) seen across England.
Avian influenza is highly pathogenic to various species of birds but importantly it has also been known to occasionally infect mammals, including humans.
Just this year, the UKHSA has confirmed a case of A(H5N1) human avian influenza in the West Midlands region. (UKHSA, 2025)
The very real possibility of species-to-species infection of particular strains of the bird flu virus (notably H5N1), means governments around the world are often quick to put in place preventative measures.
To put this is perspective, an article published in WUSF recently highlights the possibility of H5N1 becoming “an existential threat to biodiversity worldwide”.
The author, Tom Bayles states “The scientific community remains vigilant about the potential for the H5N1 virus to mutate and acquire the ability to spread efficiently between humans, which could potentially lead to a pandemic” (T.Bayles, 2025)
According to the latest updates from the Department for Environment , Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), “Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are increasing in both kept poultry and wild birds across multiple areas of Great Britain”(DEFRA/APHA, 2025)
The government has revealed an extension in the ‘Avian Influenza Prevention Zone’ or AIPZ, as it is known which demands measures such as “mandatory enhanced biosecurity and housing for kept birds” be put in place.
The latest extension of the AIPZ which already included “East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk” has now been extended to include “Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire”.
At the same time, an additional AIPZ has come into place “mandating enhanced biosecurity” only which will cover the rest of England.
The latest updates also confirm “a similar zone is in force in Scotland and will apply in Wales from 30 January 2025”.
The Uk goverments website, ‘Gov.uk’ is providing up to date information, as well as an interactive online map on the current ongoing situation.
References
Bayles, T. (2025) ‘Deadly H5N1 bird flu becomes an ‘existential threat’ to biodiversity worldwide’, WGCU. Available at: https://www.wusf.org/health-news-florida/2025-02-02/deadly-h5n1-bird-flu-becomes-existential-threat-biodiversity-worldwide (Accessed: 03/02/2025).
UKHSA (2025) ‘Human case of avian flu detected in England’, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/human-case-of-avian-flu-detected-in-england (Accessed: 03/02/2025).
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency (2025) ‘Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England’, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england#guidance (Accessed: 03/02/2025).