Castelló d’Empúries (Alt Empordà), 29 August 2025 – Catalan authorities have confirmed the detection of the first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 in Catalonia this year, affecting a white stork (Ciconia ciconia) found dead in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. The confirmation, issued by the National Reference Laboratory of Algete on Friday 22 August, follows the preliminary positive analyses carried out by IRTA-CReSA on 11 August.
The stork was found in the municipality of Castelló d’Empúries, in the province of Girona. Although this is the first outbreak detected in Catalonia so far in 2025, the Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat has issued a reassuring message, stating that it is an “isolated case” and that “the risk to the public is very low”. It has also been verified that poultry farms in the area have not been affected, thanks to the biosecurity measures already in place.
Authorities have decided to establish a 3-kilometre control zone and a 3-to-10-kilometre surveillance zone around the location where the bird was found.
Despite regulations not requiring the application of specific measures in this case, authorities have decided to act with caution. A control zone has been established within a 3-kilometre radius, and a surveillance zone extending from 3 to 10 kilometres around the site where the bird was found. Within these perimeters, specific preventive measures set out in Order APA/2442/2006 are applied. These include the prohibition on the use of ducks and waders as hunting decoys, the joint rearing of ducks and geese with other poultry, and the keeping of birds outdoors without adequate protection. The use of untreated water accessible to wild birds is also restricted, and the presence of domestic birds at shows and exhibitions is prohibited.
The Official Veterinary Services of the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda (DARPA), in coordination with the Rural Agents Corps, have conducted inspection visits to all poultry farms located within the control and surveillance zones to verify the health status of the birds and their biosecurity measures. Furthermore, passive surveillance of wild birds and carnivorous mammals has been intensified, with the aim of removing carcasses and reducing the spread of the virus.
This is an isolated case; no further positive animals have been confirmed either in the natural park area or elsewhere in Catalonia
Authorities have taken the opportunity to request public cooperation, asking that, should any dead birds or birds showing signs of disease be found, it is essential “not to touch or handle them” and to immediately contact 112 for proper management. Veterinarians and farm owners are reminded of their obligation to report any suspicion of avian influenza to the District Office of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. Alert signs include a drop in feed or water consumption of more than 20%, a decrease in egg production exceeding 5% over two consecutive days, mortality exceeding 3% in one week, as well as respiratory or nervous symptoms or haemorrhages.
This case brings the total number of HPAI outbreaks detected in wild birds in Spain during 2025 to 17, distributed across Andalusia, Extremadura, the Basque Country, Asturias, Galicia and Catalonia. In addition, two outbreaks have been recorded in poultry and one in captive birds. In August alone, 9 of these 17 cases in wild birds were confirmed across various regions, including Catalonia. Historically, three cases had already been detected in seabirds in the Alt Empordà region in 2023, and in 2022 and 2021 storks and wild geese infected at the Aiguamolls were also found.
On poultry farms, the most recent case of Avian Influenza in Catalonia occurred in February 2023 at a turkey farm in Lleida. Six years earlier, in February 2017, the first avian influenza outbreak on a duck farm in the Empordà region, Catalonia, was confirmed, resulting in the culling of more than 17,000 birds. The disease was detected following the discovery — in this case also — of another infected dead stork at the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, which led the Generalitat to implement control measures and cull all birds at the Sant Gregori farm, which was dedicated to the fattening of ducks for foie gras.
In July 2025, two cases were recorded at commercial farms in Spain, one at a turkey farm in Extremadura and another at a breeder flock farm in Toledo.
Further information:
-. Avian Influenza on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
-. Avian Influenza on NeXusAvicultura