Madrid/Paris, 16 October 2025. – The threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is intensifying across Europe. This Thursday, Spanish authorities confirmed a new and significant outbreak on a farm in Toledo — the thirteenth in poultry this year. The news comes less than 24 hours after the confirmation of a 12th outbreak in Valladolid affecting a further 315,000 laying hens, and coincides with France’s decision to raise its risk level to “moderate” across its entire territory, in a coordinated action to protect its poultry sector from the growing circulation of the virus through migratory birds.
Spain: 112,000 birds affected in Toledo
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today, Thursday 16 October, notified the detection of the HPAI H5N1 virus on a laying hen farm with a flock of approximately 112,000 birds in the municipality of Yeles (Toledo). The suspicion arose on 14 October, following reports of a slight increase in mortality on the farm. With this outbreak, the total number of AI outbreaks on poultry farms in Spain in 2025 now stands at 13.
As of 16 October, the total number of farm birds affected in Spain is 2,532,000 laying hens, 82,300 breeder hens and 28,400 turkeys. Since mid-September, all new outbreaks have occurred on laying hen farms.
Samples analysed by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete confirmed the presence of the virus. Official veterinary services immediately proceeded with the culling of the birds and the standstill of the holding, and established a restriction zone affecting a further 12 commercial farms in the surrounding area, some located in the province of Madrid.
This outbreak adds to an already concerning season. Since 1 July, Spain has recorded 47 outbreaks in wild birds and 3 in captive birds, demonstrating the high infection pressure present in the environment.
France raises its risk level to “Moderate”
Simultaneously, the French Ministry of Agriculture has raised the national risk level from “negligible” to “moderate”. This preventive measure is a direct response to the increase in cases detected in migratory birds across several European countries, including Spain, and to the confirmation of two domestic outbreaks in the past week:
- 10 October 2025: on a pheasant and partridge farm in Pas-de-Calais.
- 14 October 2025: in a backyard flock in Seine-Maritime.
The decision entails the application of enhanced biosecurity measures throughout the country, including mandatory housing of poultry in high-risk areas and a ban on gatherings of birds to prevent contact with wildlife.
“France’s decision is justified by the ‘strong infection dynamics in wild birds’ using migratory flyways — a threat that is also severely affecting Spain, with 47 outbreaks detected in wildlife since July.”
A shared threat
Both developments highlight a continent-wide reality: the avian influenza virus is circulating with considerable force along autumn migratory routes. Authorities in both countries have called on poultry farmers to maximise biosecurity measures on their farms and to report any suspicion immediately.
The official MAPA listing of Latest registered notifications of notifiable animal diseases in Spain provides daily updates from the authorities.
For further information on Avian Influenza:
-. News on Vaccination of poultry farmers and personnel in contact with production birds to reduce 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 on 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 on a breeder farm in Guadalajara
-. 5th outbreak (9 Sept., Huelva): H5N1 positivity confirmed on the 8,400-bird poultry farm in Valverde del Camino, Huelva, Andalusia
-. 6th outbreak (19 Sept., Valladolid): H5N1-type AI detected on 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. Over 800,000 laying hens to be culled.
-. 11th outbreak (13 Oct., Valladolid): Eleventh Avian Influenza outbreak detected in Spain on a 66,000-laying hen farm in Valladolid.
-. 12th outbreak (15 Oct., Valladolid): 315,000 new laying hens affected in the latest outbreak
-. 13th outbreak (16 Oct., Toledo): 112,000 laying hens in Yeles, Toledo