The Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat has reported a second case of avian flu detected in a poultry farm in Lleida province, just three kilometers from the farm where the initial outbreak began in the Urgell county. The affected farm, with about 9,000 hens, was within the previously established surveillance radius.
The positive avian flu case in this second farm was identified through preventive analyses conducted on nearby operations, according to a statement from the Department of Agriculture. As a containment measure, the 9,000 animals on the affected farm will be culled.
This new case requires expanding the surveillance radius from 10 kilometers, now impacting four additional municipalities: Bellvís, Fuliola, Linyola, and Poal. In total, four farms are within the enlarged perimeter, where thorough inspections will be carried out, along with mandatory cleaning and disinfection measures.
The department has emphasized that avian flu has very limited impact on humans. Worldwide, only isolated cases have been detected in individuals with direct high-contact exposure to animals, always in occupational settings and without severe outcomes. Furthermore, consuming poultry meat or eggs poses no risk to human health.
This outbreak follows the first case identified in the same county, which prompted a health alert from the Generalitat. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to prevent the disease's spread in the region.