Bird flu is a viral disease of birds, known formally as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the strain behind the current cases in England is H5N1. On 11 November 2026 the UK Chief Veterinary Officer ordered keepers across the whole of England to house their poultry and captive birds indoors from 00:01 on Friday 13 November 2026, after a rising number of confirmed cases in kept birds and new findings in wild birds.

The order is a disease-control measure, not a food scare. The government says the risk to human health remains very low, and properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat.

What is bird flu?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a flu virus that infects birds. Highly pathogenic strains such as H5N1 spread quickly through flocks and can kill a large share of infected birds. Wild waterfowl carry the virus and can pass it to kept poultry, which is why cases in England tend to rise in autumn and winter, when migrating birds arrive.

The current outbreak season began on 1 October 2026. By 11 November, five cases had been confirmed in England and one in Scotland, and four of the five English cases were declared in the last week, which is what prompted the national housing order.

What is the housing order?

A housing order is a legal instruction that poultry and other captive birds must be kept inside a building, away from wild birds. From 00:01 on Friday 13 November 2026, the order covers the whole of England. It applies to keepers who have 50 or more birds, with some exceptions such as certain zoo birds, and to anyone who sells or gives away eggs, poultry products or live birds, even if they keep fewer than 50.

Smaller backyard keepers who do not sell or give away birds or eggs are not covered by the housing requirement itself, but they are still covered by the separate prevention zone rules below.

What is the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone?

Alongside the housing order, the whole of England has been declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), with mandatory biosecurity measures that came into force immediately on 11 November. The zone applies to every bird keeper, including pet owners and small backyard flocks.

Under the zone, keepers must cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry, limit the movement of people and vehicles around their birds, control vermin, clean and disinfect housing regularly, keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at every entry and exit point, and keep feed and water out of reach of wild birds. Poultry must also be kept away from ponds and watercourses, in fenced or enclosed areas.

Is bird flu a risk to people or to food?

The UK Health Security Agency continues to assess the risk to human health from avian influenza as very low, and it is monitoring the situation for any change. The Food Standards Agency says properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The government has also said it does not currently anticipate any impact on the overall availability of Christmas turkeys or other seasonal poultry. The UK produces around 8 million turkeys every year.

What should keepers do if they suspect bird flu?

Keepers should watch for signs of disease, such as sudden deaths, swollen heads, a drop in egg production or birds going off their feed, and report any suspicion immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, has urged keepers to comply with the housing measures, keep biosecurity tight and report suspected disease at once, noting that having the disease confirmed in a flock can be devastating for a keeper.

Frequently asked questions

When does the England housing order start? At 00:01 on Friday 13 November 2026, and it covers the whole of England until it is withdrawn or changed.

Does the order apply to pet birds and small flocks? The housing requirement applies to keepers of 50 or more birds and to anyone who sells or gives away eggs, poultry products or live birds. The prevention zone biosecurity rules apply to all keepers, whatever the size of their flock.

Is it still safe to eat chicken and eggs? Yes. The Food Standards Agency says properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Will there be enough turkeys for Christmas? The government says it does not currently anticipate any impact on the overall availability of Christmas turkeys or other seasonal poultry.