Overview
- The agriculture ministry’s BOE order of 13 November requires all outdoor flocks to be kept indoors or under cover, including netting, to prevent contact with wild birds.
- The measure is immediate and temporary, expanding prior localized restrictions that covered roughly 1,200 municipalities, including 16 in Madrid, where a Valdemoro farm culled 450,000 hens.
- Officials cite abundant migratory waterfowl and lower temperatures that aid viral survival, as Europe reports a growing number of outbreaks this season.
- Spain has logged 74,476 infected birds and 2,728,264 total mortalities in 2025, leading to the loss of its OIE country‑free status and the activation of stricter EU‑guided controls.
- Producers are urged to register flocks under EU animal‑health law to enable surveillance and compensation, while experts say human risk remains extremely low and farm groups press for clearer guidance and wildlife‑focused measures.