Spain on Thursday extended poultry confinement measures to all its regions, after initially restricting birds to indoor enclosures in high-risk areas, the agriculture ministry said.
The order applies to all poultry farms, including organic operations and small-scale producers selling directly to consumers, it said in a statement.
Ducks and geese must be raised separately from other birds, and poultry will be banned from fairs, exhibitions, and cultural events. No end date has been announced.
“The measure responds to the heightened risk of the disease entering Spain in the past week, given the number of outbreaks reported across Europe,” the ministry said.
Nationwide confinement measures have also been imposed in the United Kingdom and France.
ADIS, a Europe-wide system that tracks infectious animal diseases, has since July recorded 139 outbreaks in European poultry farms, including 14 in Spain.
The virus can spread through bird droppings and saliva, as well as contaminated food and water, prompting concern among farmers and health authorities.
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