Juliet Jacob 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The United Kingdom has extended its bird housing order to cover the entire country as avian influenza infections continue to surge, forcing millions of poultry indoors in what officials describe as a necessary but difficult containment measure.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the order, previously restricted to parts of England, will now apply nationwide from Thursday. The directive affects commercial farms and small-scale bird keepers, requiring all poultry and captive birds to be housed indoors to reduce exposure to the virus circulating among wild bird populations.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said the decision followed “a sustained rise in confirmed cases with significant threat to domestic flocks.”
“This nationwide housing order is a difficult step, but essential to protect birds and limit further spread,” Middlemiss stated.
Officials emphasised that the risk to humans remains low and that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to consume.
The European Surveillance Authority recorded 85 poultry farm outbreaks across Europe between August and late October — including six in the UK within one week. The government has already imposed culling zones, enhanced cleaning rules, and mandatory disease reporting.
Vaccination for commercial flocks remains restricted under UK law, though ministers say the policy is under review amid pressure from farmers and public health experts.
The nationwide housing order signals one of the most extensive biosecurity measures taken in the UK since the 2021 avian flu wave.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Chukwu Obinna 
