Spain reports first cases of Newcastle Disease since 2022

The first case was discovered on 23 December. A further investigation in the protection zone showed 2 more cases, the regional government announced. Those are the first cases of Newcastle Disease in the country since the summer of 2022.

The announcement is based on preliminary diagnostic tests of the regional laboratory and the Centre for Poultry Quality and Animal Feed of the Valencian Community, the provincial government said. Those tests still have to be confirmed by the national reference laboratory in Algete.

The Valencian ministry of agriculture has immediately activated the health protocol with compulsory veterinary inspection, preventive immobilisation and reinforcement of surveillance. Authorities underlined that Newcastle Disease is highly contagious for poultry and other birds but poses no risk for human health. 

A new case of bird flu

The national department of agriculture in Madrid also reported a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the first since October. Avian influenza was confirmed in a poultry farm with 235,000 laying hens in Bellpuig near the city of Lleida in Cataluña. The infection is most probably caused by contact with a migrating bird. Spain already has a national housing order for poultry in place for the whole of the country.

The national committee for veterinary sanitaire affaires RASVE held an urgent meeting to discuss the rapidly developing situation with animal diseases in the country. Apart from Newcastle Disease and avian influenza, the country also has a number of cases of lumpy skin disease in the north-eastern border region with France. In the same region, the number of wild boar infected with African Swine Fever has, according to the latest figures of the department in Madrid, risen to 29.