The UK's Summer HPAI H5 Surge In Poultry - n=7 (Including Ireland)

[Michael Coston]

The UK's Summer HPAI H5 Surge In Poultry



HPAI H5 Outbreaks July 25th-30th

#18,817

Typically summer is a slow time for avian flu, particularly in temperate zones. Over the past week, however, the UK has reported no fewer than 4 new HPAI H5 outbreaks in poultry, scattered across their Kingdom.

This is a significant uptick, since in 2024 the UK went from February to November without reporting a single H5 outbreak. Previously, between May 12th and June 22nd 2025, the UK reported 6 infected premises.

After a lull of just over a month, over the past 6 days the UK's Defra has reported:

Bird flu: near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk (AIV 2025/53)
type: Bird flu (avian influenza) Control zone restriction: In force
Control zone type: Protection zone and 1 others
Virus strain: H5N1
Opened: 30 July 2025

Bird flu: near Tiverton, Mid Devon, Devon (AIV 2025/52)
type: Bird flu (avian influenza)
Control zone restriction: In force
Control zone type: Protection zone and 1 others
Virus strain: H5N1
Opened: 30 July 2025

Bird flu: near Dulverton, Tiverton and Minehead, Somerset (AIV 2025 51)

type: Bird flu (avian influenza)
Control zone restriction: In force
Control zone type: Protection zone and 1 others
Virus strain: H5N1
Opened: 28 July 2025

Bird flu: near Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, County Durham (AIV 2025/50)
type: Bird flu (avian influenza)
Control zone restriction: In force
Control zone type: Captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone
Virus strain: H5N1
Opened: 25 July 2025

Cases are well scattered across the Kingdom, and all are reported as HPAI H5N1.

From Defra's most recent (July 21st) High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Great Britain and Europe, we see the following outbreak map showing increased activity in May-June-July in and around the UK.

Map 3. HPAI events in domestic poultry and wild birds in Europe reported by WOAH between 12 May and 21 July 2025 (WOAH, 2025). Wild bird cases and poultry outbreaks are concentrated in Great Britain, Ireland and across the English Channel but only sporadic across eastern and central Europe with some cases in Spain and Portugal, as described in the main body of this report above.

This report was issued prior to the 4 most recent IPs (Infected premises), and after having gone 4 weeks (June 22nd-July 21st) without any outbreaks in poultry.

In years past, that has suggested the expected summer lull in bird flu outbreaks had arrived.

In the report's conclusion, the authors wrote:

Since our last assessment on 12 May 2025 (HPAI in Great Britain and Europe May 2025),cases of HPAI H5Nx have continued in gulls and seabirds through June and into July.

Therefore, the national risk level for HPAI H5 in wild birds is maintained at HIGH (occurs very often). Most of the wild bird cases in the last month have been coastal and not inland.

There have been no IPs in Great Britain for the last 4 weeks, with low numbers reported in the weeks preceding that. This suggests that the risk between infection in poultry and detection in wild birds is becoming decoupled as has been seen in previous years when HPAI H5 has over-summered in seabirds and gulls around the coast.

The risk of infection of poultry in Great Britain with suboptimal biosecurity is therefore lowered to LOW (rare but does occur) with high uncertainty. The risk to poultry with stringent biosecurity is maintained at LOW (rare but does occur) with low uncertainty

A reasonable assessment given the patterns we've seen in recent years, and the relative drought of outbreaks reported on the Continent. But as we've repeatedly seen, HPAI often throws curve balls.

Whether this summer uptick is an aberration or a trend, is something we'll simply have to wait to see.

But this is a reminder that our powers of prognostication when it comes to what avian flu will - or won't - do, remain quite limited.


https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/...n-poultry.html

[Michael Coston]

UK: Defra Announces 5th H5 Poultry Outbreak In A Week







#18,819


Yesterday, in The UK's Summer HPAI H5 Surge In Poultry, we looked at an unexpected surge in H5N1 poultry outbreaks (n=4) over less than a week, which began just 3 days after Defra lowered the nation's risk level:

The risk of infection of poultry in Great Britain with suboptimal biosecurity is therefore lowered to LOW (rare but does occur) with high uncertainty. The risk to poultry with stringent biosecurity is maintained at LOW (rare but does occur) with low uncertainty.

I won't rehash the background information from yesterday's blog, but after I posted that blog, Defra announced a 5th outbreak - once again in Sommerset County - albeit roughly 40 miles east of the outbreak near Dulverton, Tiverton and Minehead reported on the 28th.

Details are typically scant:

31 July 2025

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds at a premises near Yeovil, Yeovil, Somerset (AIV 2025/54). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared surrounding the premises.

While not unheard of, summer outbreaks of HPAI H5 in UK captive birds are fairly rare. Last year, zero outbreaks were reported between late February and early November.

Given that much of what happens with the evolution and spread of HPAI H5 occurs outside of our view, it is important to take note of any changes in the virus's behavior.

While this spate of summer HPAI outbreaks could prove to be little more than a transient event, it is worth keeping our eye on.

Stay tuned.


https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/...5-poultry.html

[Michael Coston]

Ireland & Scotland Now Reporting H5N1 Outbreaks






#18,822

Two days ago, in The UK's Summer HPAI H5 Surge In Poultry, we looked at an unexpected rise in H5N1 poultry outbreaks (n=4) over less than a week, which began just 3 days after Defra lowered the nation's risk level.

Yesterday morning we saw Defra Announce the 5th H5 Poultry Outbreak In A Week, and this morning we have two more outbreaks - one in the Republic of Ireland, and the other in the north of Scotland (see map above).

First, this report from https://www.gov.ie/

Minister Heydon announces a finding of avian influenza in a small backyard flock in Co. Donegal

From: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on: 31 July 2025
Last updated on: 31 July 2025

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has today announced that avian influenza has been detected in a small backyard flock in Co. Donegal. The Minister confirmed that there are no trade implications for the Irish poultry industry in relation to this detection, due to the very small size of the flock.

Minister Heydon said:

“A bird from a very small backyard flock in Co. Donegal has tested positive for the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, following a post-mortem examination carried out in my department’s Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Sligo. Following this result, the other birds in the flock have now been euthanised. I would like to extend my sympathies to the flock owner.”

This latest report prompted Northern Ireland's DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment, & Rural Affairs) to issue the following statement:

DAERA urges poultry keepers to remain vigilant as avian influenza continues to circulate

Date published: 1 August 2025

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is urging all poultry and bird keepers across Northern Ireland to remain vigilant for signs of avian influenza, as evidence confirms that the virus continues to circulate.

This renewed call for vigilance follows recent detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 reported by both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in the Ireland and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Great Britain.

In recent days, HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed in a small backyard flock in County Donegal and in flocks across six locations in England. In all cases, birds were humanely culled to prevent further spread.

These findings highlight the persistent and serious threat posed by avian influenza to both commercial and backyard flocks. DAERA is reminding all bird keepers — regardless of the size or type of flock — to remain alert and take all necessary steps to minimise the risk of infection, particularly from wild birds.

(Continue . . . )



Meanwhile, in Northern Scotland, Defra reports:

1 August 2025

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed by the CVO Scotland at apremises near Banff, Aberdeenshire (AIV2025/55).

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

Based on past experience, the expectation was that the UK would enjoy lull in bird flu activity over the summer. Last year no cases were reported between March and October - and until a week ago - no cases had been reported in nearly 5 weeks.

While it is not clear exactly what is behind this unseasonable uptick in HPAI outbreaks in and around the UK over the past week - any change in the virus's behavior is very much worth noting.

More importantly, we'll be watching to see if similar trends emerge in Europe, where avian flu activity has reportedly declined in recent months (see High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Great Britain and Europe ).




Stay tuned.


https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/...ting-h5n1.html