Two commercial poultry outbreaks confirmed on November 7 have brought new bird-flu control zones to northern England. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency reported H5N1 near Garstang in Lancashire and near Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The official situation update identifies the cases as AIV 2026/24 and AIV 2026/25. Each premises has a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone. Officials said all poultry on the affected premises would be humanely culled.
The announcement follows a separate November 4 confirmation near Brigg, North Lincolnshire. These dates matter when comparing current reports with articles from earlier outbreak seasons.
A local zone changes local decisions
For nearby keepers, the immediate question is whether their address falls inside a declared zone. The government links to an interactive disease-zone map for that check. A county name alone is not precise enough to establish which restrictions apply to a particular property.
The rules for disease control zones cover matters including bird movements, records, biosecurity, and litter. In 3km protection zones, poultry and other captive birds must be housed. Movement permissions and exceptions depend on the relevant rules and declaration.
Do not mistake an old housing headline for a new order
These two November 7 confirmations should not be described as a new nationwide housing order. The practical requirement is to check the current zone and its declaration, rather than apply a headline from a previous year to every flock in England.
Owners who need to contain birds temporarily also have to think about the space available. Our guide to chicken space requirements explains why crowding creates problems of its own; it does not replace statutory disease-control instructions.
This report reflects the official information checked November 8, 2026. Readers arranging bird purchases or transport should return to the live government pages before acting, because a scheduled visit may outlast today’s zone information.
