A major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a flock of more than 760,000 layer hens at a farm in Olmedo, Valladolid, central Spain.
The case was reported on September 17 after a sudden rise in bird deaths and confirmed by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete. All hens have since been culled and disinfection of the site is under way.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture and the regional government of Castilla y León have suspended all movement in and out of the farm. Controls cover animals, vehicles, people and equipment linked to the site. A three-kilometre protection zone and a 10-kilometre surveillance zone have been established. Officials are also investigating possible links to other recent outbreaks.
The Olmedo case is the sixth outbreak of bird flu in domestic poultry in Spain this year and a major blow to producers in Castilla y León, one of the country’s largest poultry regions.
The outbreak comes as cases rise across Europe. In Poland, two northern farms - one with geese and another with turkeys - were recently hit with about 4000 birds lost. In the UK new cases have been reported in Somerset and County Durham with strict biosecurity and surveillance zones in place.
The incident has heightened concern ahead of the autumn-winter migration season, when the risk of infection from wild birds usually increases.
Source - https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
