The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has ordered, as of today, the confinement of all poultry farms that are raised outdoors in Spain for the prevention and control of contagion by avian flu.
This new decision expands to the entire country the confinement of poultry, which since last Monday already affected some 1,200 Spanish municipalities located in areas considered to be of special risk and surveillance, in order to avoid contact with infected migratory wild birds.
Risk of expansion of this highly infectious disease
According to the Ministry, it is a reinforcement of preventive measures against avian influenza, given the increased risk of expansion of this highly infectious disease.
In an order published this Thursday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), in force as of today, the Government has established the confinement of open-air poultry farms in any of the existing breeding methods, including organic farms and those for self-consumption or in which eggs or meat are produced for direct sale to the final consumer.
What is prohibited
- Breeding and keeping poultry outdoors and other captive birds, although when this is not possible the authorities may authorize the keeping of poultry outdoors under a series of conditions.
When the farm cannot be confined, the authorities may authorize the placement of bird nets or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds, and provided that the birds are fed inside the farm. premises or in a shelter that prevents the arrival of wild birds and their contact with food or water intended for poultry.
- It is prohibited raise ducks and geese with other poultry species
- provide water to poultry from water tanks that can be accessed by wild birdsunless the water is treated
- The presence of poultry or captive birds in animal concentration centers such as livestock competitions, exhibitions and cultural celebrations.
However, the competent authorities of the communities and autonomous cities may authorize such concentrations as long as the birds come from the city or region itself, and a risk assessment is carried out. favorable result.
14 outbreaks reported
These measures, adopted in a precautionary manner, must be adopted without prejudice to others that have been approved by the communities and cities of Ceuta and Melilla since November 10, within the framework of the MAPA declaration of the situation of high epidemiological risk.
To date, 14 outbreaks of avian flu have been reported in poultry, 5 in captive birds and 68 in wild birds, all of them belonging to the H5N1 subtype, according to the Ministry.
Furthermore, during the last four weeks there has been a “notable” increase in the number of outbreaks in poultry and wild birds reported in the countries of central and northern Europe, territories from which a large number of migratory birds move towards Spain with the upcoming arrival of winter.
The Ministry has considered that there is a “clear risk of contagion” from wild birds to farms where breeding is carried out outdoors, which is why it has adopted the confinement of poultry as a precautionary measure.
