The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has announced that it will apply further strengthening measures from next Monday to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus, given the confirmation this week of an increased risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe, especially in wild birds, migratory movements and falling temperatures. Specifically, the measures include the confinement of poultry in areas considered to be at particular risk and surveillance, for a total of 1,199 municipalities,
The cities affected are located 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), Navarra (12), Countries Basques (6), Principality of Asturias (8), Region of Murcia (11), Ceuta and Melilla.
The Department led by Luis Planas, in agreement with the autonomous communities, has thus activated all the protection measures against avian influenza provided for in ordinance APA/2442/2006, of 27 July. Prohibitions and obligations in areas of special risk and special surveillance which include the prohibition on using birds of the Anseriform and Charadriform orders as bait or on breeding ducks and geese with other birds.
Outdoor poultry farming is also prohibited. However, Agriculture clarified that when this is not possible, the competent authority may authorize the keeping of poultry outdoors by placing bird nets or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds.
In this case the birds will have to feed and water inside the structures or in a shelter that prevents the arrival of wild birds and prevents their contact with the food and water intended for free-range birds. On the other hand, it is also prohibited to give water to poultry from tanks accessible to wild birds, unless it is treated to ensure the inactivation of any avian influenza viruses. Therefore, outdoor water tanks required for animal welfare reasons for some poultry will be sufficiently protected from wild waterfowl.
No birds in animal concentration centers
The presence of poultry or other types of captive birds in animal concentration centers, including livestock competitions, champions, exhibitions and cultural celebrations, as well as any concentration of poultry or other types of captive birds is also prohibited.
For the rest of the territory, Agriculture recalled the need to adopt extreme biosecurity measures in poultry farms, in particular those aimed at avoiding contact with wild birds, as well as to strengthen passive surveillance and to notify the official veterinary services of any suspicion of disease.
On the other hand, the Ministry recalled that the autonomous communities are those that have competences in animal health matters, therefore they can carry out other complementary measures to strengthen protection against this disease in their regions and thus prevent its spread.
