The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has instituted the confinement of poultry in forty-two municipalities of Alicante, effective from Monday, as a precautionary measure against the risk of avian influenza. This decision is part of a broader initiative affecting approximately one thousand two hundred localities nationwide, prompted by the rising incidence of the disease in Europe, particularly among wild birds.

The regions impacted in Alicante include areas near the wetlands of Salinas, El Hondo, La Mata, and La Marjal. The confinement primarily targets small domestic flocks, as there are no large outdoor poultry farms in the vicinity. The minister, Luis Planas, along with regional governments, has called for protective measures in high-risk zones, which encompass a total of one thousand one hundred and ninety-nine municipalities across Spain.

Among the restrictions introduced is a ban on outdoor poultry farming, although exceptions can be made for maintaining birds outside using netting or other barriers to prevent wild birds’ access. Additionally, supplying water to poultry from sources accessible by wild birds is prohibited unless the water has been treated to ensure it is free from avian influenza virus.

The president of Asaja Alicante, José Vicente Andreu, reassures that the overall impact of these measures will be minimal, largely confined to private farms. He emphasises that there are no open-air poultry rearing operations in the designated areas. The Ministry is also urging strict biosecurity measures to be implemented in poultry operations outside these high-risk zones, particularly to prevent contact with wild birds and to report any disease suspicions to official veterinarians immediately.