In response to a surge in avian influenza cases, the United Kingdom government has directed all poultry keepers in England to house their birds indoors starting Thursday.
The nationwide housing order, announced on Tuesday, marks an expansion of earlier regional restrictions that had applied only to parts of northern, central, and eastern England.
According to a statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the new measures require anyone keeping more than 50 birds—or selling or giving away eggs—to keep their poultry and captive birds indoors until further notice.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, explained that the decision followed a worrying rise in infections among both farmed and wild birds.
“Given the continued increase in the number of avian influenza cases in kept birds and wild birds across England, we are now taking the difficult step to extend the housing measures to the whole of England,” Middlemiss said.
The government reassured the public that the risk to human health remains low and that “properly cooked” poultry and eggs are safe to eat.
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DEFRA said the move aims to protect the country’s poultry population and prevent further spread of the virus, which has affected several European countries in recent months.
According to the European Food Safety Authority’s animal health monitor, 85 avian flu outbreaks were recorded across Europe between August 1 and late October — 28 of them occurring in the final week of that period.
The new directive underscores growing concern over the persistence of avian influenza in wild bird populations, which experts warn could threaten the poultry industry if not contained.
Farmers and bird keepers are being urged to maintain strict biosecurity measures and to report any signs of illness among their flocks immediately.