Agriculture lifts avian flu restrictions in Urgell and Pla d'Urgell
The ban on raising birds outdoors remains in place.
BarcelonaThe Catalan government's Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food has decided to lift the restrictions on the movement of live birds and poultry products that were in place in the restricted area of the Urgell region, where the disease was detected on two farms. The restrictions applied within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farms, following the detection of two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the municipalities of Bellpuig (Urgell) and Castellnou de Seana (Pla d'Urgell). The restrictions are now lifted in the following municipalities: Linyola, La Fuliola, Tornabous, Sant Martí de Riucorb, Arbeca, Miralcamp, Mollerussa, El Poal, Vila-sana, Ivars d'Urgell, Barbens, Anglesola, Castellnou de Seana, and Golmés, according to a press release.
Once 30 days have passed since the completion of the preliminary cleaning and disinfection operations of the affected farms, and provided no further outbreaks have been detected in poultry within the restricted area, the Department of Agriculture lifts the safeguard measures, in accordance with current regulations.
However, given the high risk of contagion in poultry from wild birds, certain general measures remain in effect, such as the prohibition of the presence of fighting birds in spaces where large gatherings of birds take place (fairs, competitions, exhibitions, choirs, etc.). These measures are currently applicable throughout Spain by ministerial order.
Poultry farms where outbreaks of avian influenza were detected, once the final cleaning and disinfection operations are completed and the absence of the virus is guaranteed by introducing a small number of sentinel birds to verify that there is no viral circulation, will be able to resume operations.