Risk maps of avian flu The weekly reports received by the Balearic Government "indicate a very worrying progression" in the Islands, as announced this Tuesday by the Director General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández, during the presentation of the animal health report and the main control systems in the Balearic Islands. "We are at the critical point of risk for avian flu," he insisted. However, he celebrated that there are no outbreaks of the disease in the Balearic Islands and assured that the strategy adopted by the Executive to address it "is working well." The Government has relaxed the measures imposed by the Spanish government, since the ministerial order states that the autonomous communities can adjust the measures to adapt them to the realities of their farms, and has not confined the birds. However, last month the Executive tightened precautions and extended the measure to all municipalities in the Islands. The Ministry of Agriculture has also activated preventative measures, such as the confinement of birds when their protection from contact with wild birds cannot be guaranteed, the prohibition of poultry fairs and markets, and the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance, especially in wetlands and migratory route areas. In this regard, a new unified protocol for the detection of avian influenza has been developed, targeting wild birds, poultry, captive birds, and game birds. During 2025, controls were increased by 64 percent compared to the national program, with 61 actions taken, while in 2024, 37 were carried out. "However, we are particularly concerned about the low reporting of moribund or dead wild birds for sampling," the director explained.

Unió de Pagesos de Mallorca demands that the Government make a "shield plan" for animal health against Pthis African Swine (African Swine Fever) and other threats such as avian flu, with the aim of "protecting native breeds," as explained by the farmers' union in a statement. Thus, the agricultural organization is making an "urgent" appeal to the Government to "immediately enact and implement" preventive and reinforced animal health and protection measures, based on the experience of other crises. "We cannot allow the Administration to stand idly by. The protection of our native breeds, which are part of our history and our rural identity, must be an absolute priority. We are suffering from bluetongue and we see how nodular dermatosis threatens cattle. Now, ASF and avian flu are a serious threat," stated the Secretary General of Unió de Pagesos, Sebastià Ordines.

In the coming days, the Balearic Government will extend protective measures against avian flu to all municipalities in the islands, but will not confine the birds. Currently, control measures only affect municipalities considered high-risk areas, such as Santa Margalida, Muro, Sa Pobla, Pollença, and Alcúdia, and those considered areas of special surveillance, such as Felanitx, Campos, Formentera, Ibiza, San José de Sa Atalaya, Santa Eulalia del Río, Maó, and Es Mercadal. This Thursday, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) ordered the confinement of all poultry in the country, but the ministerial order states that the autonomous communities can adjust the measures to adapt them to the specific circumstances of their farms. The Directorate General of Agriculture has decided to maintain the previously announced protective measures that will allow, as established by state regulations, "the keeping of poultry outdoors, by placing, if possible, bird netting or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds, and in facilities or shelters that prevent the arrival of wild birds and avoid their contact with the food or water intended for the poultry." Although avian flu has not yet reached the Balearic Islands, the Director General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández, has warned that "the danger is real" and added that there is "very strong" concern about this disease reaching the Islands. Therefore, he reiterated that the measures adopted by the Government "can be maintained as long as there is responsible behavior on the part of farm owners." Similarly, he warned that if the Directorate General becomes aware of widespread non-compliance with the precautions, "more drastic measures will be adopted, including, if necessary, lockdowns." Regarding small-scale poultry farms, Fernández indicated that they are obligated to keep their waterers and feeders in protected locations and that these farms are best suited to establish enclosed feeding stations. However, the Director General pointed out that 70 percent of poultry farms in the Balearic Islands are for personal consumption, making it "practically impossible to enforce this measure with this level of dispersion." Therefore, he expressed his confidence that owners will comply with the measures, protect their hens, and "look out for their own well-being and that of their neighbors." Furthermore, the Directorate General, together with its technical services, has determined that the next resolution will include more intensive inspections of commercial farms to ensure that biosecurity measures are being implemented.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that it will implement additional reinforcement measures starting next Monday to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus, following this week's confirmation of an increased risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe (especially in wild birds), migratory movements, and the drop in temperature. Specifically, the measures include the confinement of poultry in areas considered to be of special risk and under surveillance, a total of 1,199 municipalities located in Andalusia (197), Aragon (128), the Canary Islands (1), Cantabria (31), Mana (31), Castile and León (224), the Community of Madrid (16), the Valencian Community (138), Extremadura (99), Galicia (40), the Balearic Islands (14), La Rioja (6), Navarre (12), the Basque Country (6), the Principality of Asturias (8), and the Region of Murcia (11). The department headed by Luis Planas, in agreement with the autonomous communities, has activated all the protective measures against avian influenza stipulated in Order APA/2442/2006, of July 27. These prohibitions and obligations in areas of special risk and special surveillance include the prohibition of using birds of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes, or raising ducks and geese with other poultry. Raising poultry outdoors is also prohibited. However, the Ministry of Agriculture clarified that when this is not possible, the competent authority may authorize keeping poultry outdoors by installing netting or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds. In this case, the birds must be fed and watered inside the facilities or in a shelter that prevents wild birds from entering and avoids contact between wild birds and the food and water intended for the poultry. Furthermore, it is also prohibited to give poultry water from containers accessible to wild birds, except if the water is treated to ensure the inactivation of any avian influenza viruses. Thus, outdoor water containers required for the welfare of certain poultry will be sufficiently protected against wild waterfowl. The presence of poultry or other captive birds is also prohibited at animal gathering centers, including livestock shows, exhibitions, displays, and cultural events, as well as any gathering of poultry or other captive birds. For the rest of the country, the Ministry of Agriculture has reiterated the need to intensify biosecurity measures on poultry farms, especially those aimed at preventing contact with wild birds, as well as to strengthen passive surveillance and report any suspected cases of disease to official veterinary services as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Ministry has reminded the public that the autonomous communities are responsible for animal health and can therefore determine other complementary measures to strengthen protection against this disease in their regions and thus prevent its spread.