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The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confines breeding birds in areas of special risk and surveillance to prevent the spread of avian influenza

07/11/2025
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confines breeding birds in areas of special risk and surveillance to prevent the spread of avian influenza
  • The new preventive measures are taken in the face of the increase in cases and migratory bird movements will enter into force on Monday 10
  • In La Rioja there are six municipalities to which the measures concern
  • Surveillance and biosecurity in poultry farms is strengthened

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will apply additional reinforcement measures to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus from next Monday, October 10th, in view of the observation this week of an increase in risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe - especially in wild birds - migratory movements and the decrease in temperatures.

These measures include the confinement of poultry in those areas considered to be of special risk and of special surveillance, 1,199 municipalities in Andalusia (197), Aragon (128), Canary Islands (1), Cantabria (31) Castilla y León (250), Castilla-La Mancha (18), Catalonia (224), Community of Madrid (16), Valencian Community (138), Extremadura (99), Galicia (40), Balearic Islands (14), La Rioja (6), Navarre (12), Basque Country (6), Asturias, Region.

The six municipalities of Rioja affected are Alfaro, Calsalvo, Hervias, Leiva, Logroño and Tormantos.

The ministry, in agreement with the autonomous communities, activates all the measures of protection against avian influenza contemplated by the Order APA/2442/2006, 27 Julyand which includes the following prohibitions and obligations in special risk and special surveillance zones:

  • The use of birds of the anseriform and charadriform orders as lure is prohibited.
  • The breeding of ducks and geese with other poultry is prohibited.
  • The rearing of poultry outdoors is prohibited. However, where this is not possible, the competent authority may authorise the keeping of poultry outdoors by means of the laying of bird cloths or any other device preventing the entry of wild birds. In this case, the birds will have to feed and water inside the premises or in a shelter that prevents the arrival of wild birds and prevents their contact with food and water intended for poultry.
  • It is prohibited to give water to poultry coming from reservoirs that are accessible to wild birds, except in the case of treatment in order to ensure the inactivation of possible avian influenza viruses.
  • Outdoor water tanks required for animal welfare purposes for certain poultry shall be sufficiently protected against wild waterfowl.
  • The presence of poultry or other captive birds in animal concentration centres is prohibited, including contests, livestock contests, exhibitions and cultural celebrations, as well as any concentration of poultry or other captive birds.

For the rest of the territory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recalls the need to increase biosafety measures in poultry farms, especially those aimed at avoiding contact with wild birds, as well as strengthening passive surveillance, and notify official veterinary services as soon as possible of any suspected disease.

The special risk and special surveillance zones are set out, respectively, in Annexes II and III to that order. The autonomous communities, which have the competences in animal health, can determine other complementary measures to strengthen protection against this disease.