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Avian flu confirmed at tenth Lincolnshire premises
The UK's chief vet has urged poultry keepers to take biosecurity steps to protect their flocks.
All birds will be humanely culled and surveillance zones are in place.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been confirmed at a tenth premises in Lincolnshire, the APHA has confirmed.

All birds at the affected premises, based near Alford, East Lindsey, will be humanely culled and a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been placed around the premises.

To date, the Government has confirmed 62 cases of avian influenza in England this season. There have also been five confirmed cases in Scotland and three cases in Wales.

The UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss previously urged poultry keepers to undertake urgent biosecurity measures to keep their birds safe and prevent the further spread of the disease.

She said:“We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease including introducing housing measures. However, we are seeing a growing number of bird flu cases both on commercial farms and in backyard birds right across the country.
 
 “Implementing scrupulous biosecurity has never been more critical. You must regularly clean and disinfect your footwear and clothes before entering enclosures, stop your birds mixing with any wild birds and only allow visitors that are strictly necessary.”

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.