H5N1 avian influenza hits 32,000-hen farm in England

England has confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the 2026/27 season. The H5N1 virus was detected at a free-range egg farm in Northumberland.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed on 19 October 2026 at a commercial poultry farm near Belford, Northumberland, in north-east England. The farm is estimated to house 32,000 free-range laying hens, according to Farmers Weekly.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has ordered all birds on the premises to be culled. A 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have also been established around the farm, with restrictions in place to prevent further spread of the virus.

Although this is England’s first confirmed outbreak of the 2026/27 season, it is the second recorded in Great Britain. Earlier in October, HPAI H5N5 was detected in a backyard flock near Ness, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

Gary Ford, head of strategy at the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), said another outbreak was not entirely unexpected, but remained worrying for the industry and particularly distressing for the farmer and their family. He stressed the need for early reporting of suspected cases, swift culling of birds on affected premises, followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) also called on poultry keepers, regardless of flock size, to maintain strict biosecurity measures and watch for signs of disease as more migratory birds arrive in the UK.

According to Farmers Weekly, avian influenza affected 100 premises during the previous season.