Bird flu restrictions to cover England and Scotland as number of cases rise - The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said they are not currently expecting overall egg supplies to be affected.

A bird flu prevention zone enforcing strict strict hygiene standards around birds is being declared for the whole of England from noon on Saturday. The rising number of cases and the risk to wildlife led to the decision,

England and Scotland have been placed under mandatory prevention zones amid an alarming surge in cases of bird flu.

The avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) is being extended to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across England applies to all bird keepers, whether they have pets or a commercial flock. It means owners have to conduct enhanced biosecurity measures, including:

All bird keepers, from people with pet birds to farmers with huge flocks, are now required to follow strict hygiene measures imposed by the government - and in some counties, birds must be kept indoors.

A climbing number of bird flu cases across England has convinced the government to enforce a prevention zone for the avian disease across the entire country. Strict new measures mean all birds must be kept indoors in York, North Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The UK Government announced an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) is to be extended across all of England from 12pm today (March 31) as a result of the "escalating number of cases"

Most of the UK has been placed under an avian influenza prevention zone after cases show no sign of stopping. The new zone to tackle a rising number of bird flu cases was declared in England and Scotland after the spread among poultry has escalated.

The government has extended its Avian Influenza Prevention Zone  to cover the whole of England - with fresh restrictions also issued for Shropshire.