The UK has implemented mandatory poultry enclosure measures to curb the spread of avian influenza

The British government announced on Tuesday (November 4th) that from Thursday (6th), mandatory poultry enclosure measures will be implemented across the country to curb the spread of avian influenza.

AFP reported that avian influenza is currently spreading rapidly in Europe, with the number of countries reporting the epidemic reaching the highest level in a decade, raising concerns that a repeat of the past crisis of large-scale culling of tens of millions of birds and pushing up food prices may occur.

It was reported that on Monday, the UK confirmed an outbreak of the epidemic at two commercial poultry farms, located in North Yorkshire and Devon respectively. Additionally, an outbreak was also reported at a caged poultry farm in East Sussex.

Since October 1st, the UK has witnessed a total of 23 outbreaks of avian influenza in the 2025/26 fiscal year, with 19 of them occurring in England.

According to the new regulations, farmers raising fewer than 50 poultry can be exempted from relevant measures, provided that the eggs and poultry products they produce are for their own use only.

The government pointed out that bird flu is mainly spread by wild birds that migrate southward in autumn.

The World Health Organization emphasizes that the risk of human infection with avian influenza remains at a low level, and most cases are related to close contact with infected animals. However, given that the virus is increasingly spreading to mammalian populations, continuous monitoring is still necessary.