Great Britain loses HPAI disease-free status after Lewis outbreak

Published on : 4 Oct 2026

Great Britain has lost its highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) disease-free status following confirmation of an H5N5 outbreak in poultry on the Isle of Lewis.

HPAI H5N5 was confirmed at a premises in Ness on 2 October, with a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone subsequently declared around the affected premises.

Defra confirmed on 3 October that the case is the first outbreak of the 2026/27 season and that, as a result, Great Britain has lost its freedom from HPAI status.

The change does not mean poultry across Britain is infected, nor does it automatically result in a national housing order or affect the free-range status of flocks outside disease control zones.

Instead, disease-free status is particularly important for international animal-health certification and trade.

For egg exporters, current Defra guidance states that eggs produced outside bird flu disease control zones in Great Britain can continue to be exported to the EU. Eggs originating within disease control zones cannot be exported to the EU while those restrictions remain in place.

Exports to countries outside the EU can be more complicated. Some trading partners require the whole of the UK or Great Britain to be free from avian influenza before accepting certain poultry or egg products, while others recognise regionalisation and continue to accept products originating outside affected areas.

The impact therefore depends on the individual importing country and the conditions contained within the relevant export health certificate.

How long will it take to regain disease-free status?
Under World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules, a previously free country or zone where HPAI infection has occurred in poultry may regain free status after a minimum period of 28 days following completion of a stamping-out policy, provided the required surveillance demonstrates the absence of infection.

Importantly, the 28-day period does not simply run from the date the outbreak was confirmed.

WOAH defines completion of stamping out for this purpose as following the disinfection of the last affected establishment. The clock towards regaining disease-free status therefore depends on when the required disease-control measures, including final disinfection, are completed.

If the Lewis outbreak remains an isolated incident, this provides a possible route back to disease-free status within a relatively short period.

However, any further HPAI outbreak in poultry could extend that timetable. If another affected premises becomes the last establishment to undergo stamping out and disinfection, the relevant 28-day period would run from completion of measures at that premises.

Regaining status is also dependent on appropriate surveillance during the recovery period demonstrating that infection is no longer present.

For producers, the immediate concern is therefore less the loss of status itself and more whether further outbreaks occur as Britain moves deeper into the autumn and winter risk period.

Defra raised the risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain to medium on 1 October, two days before confirming the loss of disease-free status.

At present, the Lewis outbreak remains the only confirmed HPAI premises case of the 2026/27 season in the UK, with no cases recorded in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

References
Defra – Bird flu: latest situation in England and Great Britain
Defra latest HPAI situation

Scottish Government – Avian influenza outbreaks and Ness, Isle of Lewis case
Scottish Government outbreak information

World Organisation for Animal Health – Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 10.4, including Article 10.4.6 on recovery of free status
WOAH HPAI standards

Defra – Exporting eggs from Great Britain
Defra egg export guidance