Over the past few weeks, the number of reported cases of avian influenza in wild and domestic birds has seen a considerable increase in Spain and throughout the European Union. Given this unfavorable epidemiological situation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has chosen to adopt risk mitigation measures, among which is the prohibition of raising poultry outdoors.
This plan, which has a preventive approach with the objective of applying the precautionary principle, will become effective next November 10. Spain thus joins the list of countries that have ordered similar confinements, as is the case of France, which at the end of October raised the risk level of avian flu from “moderate” to high.
Where it is not possible to keep poultry indoors, the competent authority may authorize the keeping of these animals outdoors through the use of birdhouse fabrics or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds. Furthermore, in this case, the birds must also be fed and watered inside the facilities or in a shelter that prevents contact of these wild animals with food or water.
In this way, the Ministry of Agriculture seeks to reduce the number of infections of avian flu, which is a highly contagious disease. Along with this measure, the Government also prohibits the use of birds from the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes as decoys.
The breeding of ducks and geese with other species of poultry is also prohibited, as is the presence of these captive animals in the animal concentration centerssuch as livestock competitions, samples, exhibitions and cultural celebrations. With respect to this last measure, however, the competent regional authority is allowed to authorize them if there is a favorable risk assessment.
The food and water protection of poultry is extremely important to prevent the spread of the virus, so that which comes from tanks to which wild birds have access cannot be used, unless the inactivation of the disease is guaranteed through water treatment. In addition, those tanks that are located outside must be sufficiently protected against wild waterfowl.
According to ADIS figures, published by the Ministry of Agriculture in the order of the measures, from July 1 to November 5, 14 outbreaks of avian flu in poultry, 68 in wild birds and 5 in captive birds have been reported in Spain.
These data place the country as one of those with the greatest presence of the virus in Europe. In the month of September, several cases were detected in the Doñana National Park and recently the death of several specimens and the detection of birds with anomalous behavior in the Tablas de Daimiel have been reported. These wetlands are key points in the migratory routes of these animals, which would favor the spread of the virus if sick birds arrived from northern Europe.
Carlos Ruiz de la Hermosa, director of the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, however, called for calm and stressed that this is likely not to happen: “The virus is very aggressive and sick animals hardly complete the trip,” he explained regarding the outbreak that is occurring in Germany, the country where the most cases are being reported.
The forecast of the drop in temperatures and the regional risk maps of the presence of the virus make it advisable to increase the risk level at the national level, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, which also urges the competent authorities of the rest of the national territory to take information, awareness, surveillance and security measures.
