Madrid, December 15 – The Community of Madrid has officially acknowledged the detection of 20 avian flu outbreaks since September 2025, impacting various bird populations including chickens, geese, and storks. This announcement comes amidst controversy surrounding the initial reporting of outbreaks and the recent discovery of hundreds of dead storks in four municipalities within the Community. The regional government has now imposed breeding restrictions in 18 municipalities, which will remain in effect until at least January 11, 2026.
Timeline of Outbreaks and Official Confirmations
The first highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) focus, subtype H5N1, was confirmed on September 22, 2025, in wild birds, specifically two geese from Andalucía Park in Alcobendas. Subsequently, on October 1, 2025, an H5N1 outbreak was identified in poultry at a laying hen farm in Valdemoro. Throughout October and November, further outbreaks in wild birds were reported in Móstoles, Alcorcón, Leganés, Fuenlabrada, Madrid (El Retiro Park), Villamanrique de Tajo, Getafe, Ciempozuelos, Torres de la Alameda, Chinchón, San Martín de la Vega, and Madrid (La Gavia Park). Captive birds in Torrejón de Velasco and Ciempozuelos also showed positive cases. Most recently, on December 11, 2025, four new outbreaks in wild birds were confirmed in Getafe-Perales del Río, Boadilla del Monte, Arganda del Rey, and Rivas-Vaciamadrid.
Mass Mortality of Storks Confirmed Due to Avian Flu
The massive death of storks along the Manzanares River, and in the Perales del Río and La Marañosa areas of Getafe, has been definitively attributed to a severe avian flu outbreak. Initially, the regional executive did not inform the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment about one of the causative outbreaks, deeming it to be of “low pathogenicity.” However, the Central Veterinary Laboratory, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment, confirmed last Thursday the presence of highly pathogenic avian flu in the stork specimens found in early December.
New Restrictions on Bird Rearing
In response to the “overlapping outbreaks in the southern area of the Community of Madrid,” the government, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has decided to implement restrictions in 18 municipalities. These municipalities include Alcorcón, Arganda del Rey, Boadilla del Monte, Campo Real, Getafe, Leganés, Loeches, Madrid (southeast and southwest areas), Majadahonda, Mejorada del Campo, Morata de Tajuña, Móstoles, Pinto, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, San Martín de la Vega, Velilla de San Antonio, and Villaviciosa de Odón.
The new regulations prohibit the co-rearing of ducks and geese with other poultry species, outdoor rearing of poultry, and the sharing of water sources with wild birds. Additionally, visits to breeding facilities must be minimized, and strict disinfection protocols for both people and vehicles are mandatory.
Regional Government Cites European Migration as a Factor
The regional government attributes the sudden increase in cases to the migration of birds, a phenomenon observed across Europe. This thesis suggests that migratory birds are the primary vector for the virus’s arrival in Spain, thereby mitigating the regional administration’s responsibility for a potential indigenous strain.
Current Situation and Future Outlook
Carlos Novillo, the regional Minister for Environment, Agriculture, and Interior, stated last week that the virus has so far only been found in “wild birds” and that “no poultry farms in the region have been affected.” He expressed satisfaction that the containment measures implemented across Spain, in coordination with the Ministry, are proving effective. The regional government’s official bulletin (BOCM) on Monday confirmed the expansion of these restrictions to prevent further spread of the virus.
