H5N1 found near Market Rasen
Authorities confirmed H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial duck‑breeding flock near Market Rasen just two days after mandatory housing rules were lifted. The RSPB issued fresh guidance on seasonal bird‑feeding hygiene to reduce disease risk, and a University of Georgia study noted that ducks travel less when habitat needs are met — a factor experts say could affect how avian‑flu spreads. (farmersguide.co.uk) (poultrynews.co.uk) (mkfm.com) (gpb.org)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, the H5N1 strain of bird flu, was confirmed on April 11 in a commercial duck-breeding flock near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. (gov.uk) The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said a 3-kilometre Protection Zone and 10-kilometre Surveillance Zone were declared around the site, and poultry on the premises will be humanely culled. (gov.uk) The case was reported two days after housing measures were lifted in England and Wales on April 9, except in areas already under local restrictions. Poultry News identified the infected premises as a commercial duck breeding flock near Market Rasen. (gov.uk) (poultrynews.co.uk) Avian influenza is a virus that spreads among birds, and H5N1 is the highly pathogenic form that can kill poultry quickly and trigger movement controls around infected farms. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said H5 bird flu remains widespread in wild birds globally and is causing outbreaks in poultry, while describing the current public-health risk to the general public as low. (cdc.gov) The Market Rasen case lands in a county that has already seen repeated outbreaks this season. A separate government notice shows H5N1 was also confirmed near Market Rasen on December 21, 2025, at another commercial poultry premises. (gov.uk) At the same time, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has changed its advice for garden feeding. The charity now says people should “feed seasonally” and “feed safely,” with extra caution in summer and autumn when disease spreads more easily and natural food is more available. (rspb.org.uk) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said people should clean feeders and bird baths regularly, clear away damp or moldy food, and avoid letting food build up on the ground. BirdGuides reported the updated advice was issued on April 10 after an evidence review with the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology and the British Trust for Ornithology. (rspb.org.uk) (birdguides.com) Researchers are also looking at how wild birds move between wetlands, fields and farms. A University of Georgia study published in Ecology Letters found ducks, swans and geese tend to travel shorter distances in landscapes with mixed habitat and human activity, where food, water and shelter are easier to find. (phys.org) That finding could change how scientists model bird-flu spread outside peak migration, because shorter everyday movements may keep some birds local while still linking nearby habitats. Georgia Public Broadcasting reported the study drew on about two decades of satellite tracking data from waterfowl around the world. (gpb.org) For farmers near Market Rasen, the immediate rules are the old ones: movement controls, disease-control zones and culling at the infected site. For everyone else watching spring bird activity, the message from officials and conservation groups is more practical than seasonal: keep birds apart where possible, and keep feeding areas clean. (gov.uk) (rspb.org.uk)
