New avian influenza outbreak detected at a farm in Valladolid
The H5N1 outbreak affects 66,000 laying hens and brings the total number of poultry outbreaks in Spain in 2025 to 11.
Valladolid, 13 October 2025. Veterinary authorities in Castilla y León have confirmed a new outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 at a laying hen farm in the province of Valladolid. The operation, with an approximate flock size of 66,000 birds, falls within the surveillance zone established following a previous outbreak detected on 6 October in Olmedo that affected more than 800,000 laying hens.
The suspicion arose on 10 October, when an abnormal increase in mortality at the farm was reported to the Official Veterinary Services (OVS). Following an on-site inspection and precautionary standstill order on the operation, samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete, which confirmed the presence of subtype H5N1. The source of the infection is currently under investigation.
Control measures implemented
From the moment suspicion was raised, the OVS of the Junta de Castilla y León activated a strict control protocol, including the following actions:
- Immediate standstill of the affected operation and all those located within the restricted zone from 10 October.
- Culling of the birds and official disposal of carcasses, feed, and other materials that could spread the virus.
- Launch of an epidemiological investigation to determine the source of the outbreak and identify possible routes of transmission.
- Establishment of a restricted zone around the outbreak affecting 15 commercial operations.
Avian influenza situation in Spain
With this new case, the total number of HPAI outbreaks in poultry reported in Spain in 2025 rises to 11. The breakdown by province is as follows:
| Province | Number of Poultry Outbreaks (2025) |
| Valladolid | 5 |
| Huelva | 2 |
| Badajoz | 1 |
| Toledo | 1 |
| Guadalajara | 1 |
| Madrid | 1 |
| Total | 11 |
Furthermore, since the current season began on 1 July 2025, 45 outbreaks in wild birds and 2 in captive birds have been detected across various autonomous communities.
Recommendations and food safety
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stresses the importance of strengthening biosecurity measures on poultry operations to prevent contact with wild birds. It also emphasises the need to report any suspicion of disease to the veterinary services.
It is reiterated that the virus is not transmitted to humans through the consumption of cooked poultry meat, eggs, or processed products. Nevertheless, it is recommended to minimise unnecessary contact with birds showing symptoms or found dead.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture.
Update on the situation in France:
-. PARIS, 11 Oct 2025 – France confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a farm in the north of the country, according to authorities, at a time when Europe is facing a seasonal resurgence of this deadly disease. The virus was detected at a pheasant and partridge rearing farm located in the town of Pihen-Les-Guines, near the port city of Calais, the local prefecture announced in a statement. All birds on the farm will be culled, and poultry within a 10 km radius of the affected farm will be kept indoors.
For more information on Avian Influenza:
-. News on Vaccination of poultry farmers and personnel in contact with production birds to prevent zoonosis risks.
-. News on Vaccination of production birds to prevent AI outbreaks
-. Triple avian influenza alert: Portugal, Spain and Germany confirm cases on poultry farms. (5 Sept 2025)
-. Avian Influenza on NeXusAvicultura
Tracking of Avian Influenza cases on poultry farms in Spain in 2025:
-. 1st outbreak of 2025 (18 July, Extremadura): Alert following an Avian Influenza outbreak at a 7,000-turkey farm in Extremadura
-. 2nd outbreak (28 July, Toledo): Second AI outbreak detected, this time in breeder hens in Toledo
-. 3rd outbreak (1 Sept, Huelva): The spectre of H5N1 returns to Andalusia: 8,500 turkeys culled due to avian influenza in Huelva.
-. 4th outbreak (8 Sept, Guadalajara): Spain records its fourth AI outbreak of 2025, this time at a breeder farm in Guadalajara
-. 5th outbreak (9 Sept, Huelva): H5N1 positive confirmed at the 8,400-bird poultry farm in Valverde del Camino, Huelva, Andalusia
-. 6th outbreak (19 Sept, Valladolid): H5N1 Avian Influenza detected at a 760,000 laying hen farm in Valladolid
-. 7th, 8th and 9th outbreaks (1 Oct, Valladolid and Madrid): 552,000 laying hens affected by three new AI outbreaks in Madrid and Valladolid
-. 10th outbreak (6 Oct, Valladolid): Tenth Avian Influenza outbreak detected in Spain. More than 800,000 laying hens to be culled.
-. 11th outbreak (13 Oct, Valladolid): Eleventh Avian Influenza outbreak detected in Spain at a farm of 66,000 laying hens.