The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) confirmed on 8 May 2026 a new outbreak of Newcastle disease on a farm of 20,040 laying hens at 85 weeks of age located in the municipality of Castelló de Rugat (Vall d’Albaida, Valencia), bringing to ten the number of outbreaks recorded this season in Spain, all of them in the province of Valencia.
New Newcastle disease outbreak in laying hens in Castelló de Rugat (Valencia)
Castelló de Rugat (Valencia), 8 May 2026 – Suspicion was triggered after a drop of nearly 7% in egg production over the past month was detected in a flock vaccinated with three doses against Newcastle disease, confirming that vaccination reduces clinical severity and viral shedding, but does not guarantee absolute protection against velogenic strains. The Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete confirmed by PCR the presence of a velogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus.
The affected farm falls within the 3 km radius of the seventh outbreak (9 April) on a farm with 26,300 broilers and the eighth outbreak (10 April 2026) on a farm with 32,000 laying hens, and of the ninth outbreak of 28 April in broilers, meaning this new case adds to the chain of outbreaks affecting the same production area. In total, ten outbreaks in poultry have been reported this season, all on farms in the province of Valencia.
In accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, official veterinary services have ordered the immediate movement restriction of the farm, the carrying out of an epidemiological investigation, a sanitary depopulation with controlled destruction of carcasses, feed and risk materials, as well as the establishment of restriction zones within a radius of 3 and 10 km around the outbreak. Within that perimeter, only one commercial farm with an active census remains, while the rest of the farms are empty — a circumstance that could favour the rapid containment of the outbreak.
MAPA has stressed the need to strengthen passive surveillance on poultry farms and in wild bird populations, and to reinforce biosecurity measures, particularly those aimed at preventing contact with wild birds and ensuring strict cleaning, disinfection and vaccination protocols.
Chronology of Newcastle disease outbreaks in Spain:
After more than three years (since 2022) without any Newcastle disease case in Spain, the situation has become complicated in the Valencian Community since the resurgence of the disease in December 2025. The following is the updated list of outbreaks as of 11 May 2026:
- The origin (Outbreak 1): The disease reappeared in Spain in late December 2025 in the municipality of Llutxent (Valencia), on a farm of 15,000 chickens, breaking the disease-free status that Spain had maintained since 2022.
- The spread (Outbreaks 2, 3 and 4): On 2 January 2026, three new secondary outbreaks were confirmed in the same municipality, affecting farms with flock sizes of 28,500, 16,500 and 20,100 birds. The investigation pointed to geographical proximity and links between owners as transmission factors.
- The fifth case (20 January 2026) on a farm of 75,000 broilers.
- Sixth outbreak (9 March 2026) in Terrateig, affecting a single shed of 27,000 hens in a poultry complex.
- Seventh outbreak (9 April 2026) on a farm with 26,300 broilers and eighth outbreak (10 April 2026) on a farm with 32,000 laying hens. Both in Ráfol de Salem.
- Ninth outbreak (28 April 2026) on a farm with 38,900 broilers in Ráfol de Salem.
- Tenth outbreak (8 May 2026) on a farm with 20,040 laying hens in Castelló de Rugat (official communiqué).
Further reading:
-. What is Newcastle Disease?
-. National Newcastle Disease Surveillance Programme 2026. (14-page MAPA PDF published in May 2025)
-. Main page on Newcastle Disease Control from MAPA
-. Newcastle Disease on NeXusAvicultura
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