Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average length of time is between the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) receiving a report of suspected avian influenza in (a) wild birds and (b) kept birds on private land and (i) an APHA duty vet visiting to collect samples and (ii) a protection zone being established.

Since 1 October 2022 the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have responded to 201 suspect cases in kept birds. Of these 140 have been confirmed as infected premises. For these cases, the average time between a report of suspicion of avian influenza in kept birds being made to APHA and (i) samples being taken was half a day, and (ii) the first disease control zone being put in place was one and a half days

Avian influenza is not notifiable in wild birds. Members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds in Great Britain to the Defra helpline. Reported dead wild birds which meet the collection criteria and are in an accessible location are collected within four days. No disease control zones have been put in place surrounding findings of avian influenza in wild birds during the current outbreak.