The Chief Veterinary Officer of the U.K. has issued a mandatory confinement order requiring captive birds and poultry to be housed indoors effective November 7th.  In addition, flocks must be maintained under stringent biosecurity.  During the last week of October, the entire area of Great Britain was designated a bird flu prevention zone. 

Dr. Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer, stated, “This year we are now facing the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England.”  She added, “The risk of flocks being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.”

According to the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (equivalent to USDA), evidence shows that housing free-range birds reduces the risk of infection.