Spain also announces housing order for poultry amid avian influenza concerns

Spain is the next European country to announce a housing order for all poultry in areas deemed high risk for infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

So far, the country has not reported any cases in commercial premises, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Madrid announced additional reinforcement measures starting 10 November to prevent the spread of the virus. This comes in response to the confirmed increased risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe – especially in wild birds – migratory movements, and dropping temperatures.

Confinement of poultry is ordered in most of Spain’s regions, from southern Andalusia to Galicia and the Basque Country along the north coast. The housing order also covers Madrid, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands.

The Ministry, in agreement with the Autonomous Communities, activates all protective measures against avian influenza, including a ban on open-air poultry farming, the announcement states.

Where confinement is not possible, the competent authority may authorise keeping poultry outdoors by using aviary fabrics or other devices that prevent wild birds from entering. In such cases, birds must be fed and watered inside the facilities or in a sheltered area that blocks wild birds and prevents contact with food and water meant for free-range birds.

For the rest of the territory, the Spanish ministry of agriculture reminds all farmers of the need to take extreme biosecurity measures in poultry farms, especially those aimed at avoiding contact with wild birds, as well as to reinforce passive surveillance, and to notify any suspicion of disease to the official veterinary services as soon as possible.

Tags: Poultry, Spain, Disease, wild birds, Virus, highly pathogenic avian influenza, housing order