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Andalucía raises alert as avian flu spreads to Doñana with new outbreaks in Seville and Huelva
Regional government steps up measures to tackle virus affecting wild birds across key natural areas
Building on earlier reports that confirmed avian flu as the cause of bird deaths in Seville’s Tamarguillo Park, the Andalusian Regional Government has now raised the alert level following three new outbreaks in the Doñana natural area. These latest cases, detected in the municipalities of Aznalcázar in Seville and Hinojos in Huelva, involve a total of four wild ducks affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).Previously, outbreaks had been confirmed in parks in Seville and Malaga, as well as on a poultry farm in Huelva. With the new findings, the regional Ministry of Sustainability and Environment has activated Level 2 of its prevention protocol under the Andalusian Wildlife Epidemiological Surveillance Program. This step boosts vigilance and control efforts in Doñana, where large populations of migrating birds gather, enhancing measures to reduce disease risk.
Regional Minister Catalina García stressed the importance of a swift and coordinated response, explaining that dead birds are being carefully removed, with remains stored under strict biosecurity until safe collection by authorised companies. Sick birds identified as threatened species are transferred to Endangered Species Recovery Centres for care, while non-threatened species undergo veterinary health controls. She said this approach ensures both protection of vulnerable wildlife and public health.
Field teams have received training and personal protective equipment to safely carry out their duties. Coordination between various governmental and environmental agencies remains continuous, with surveillance, veterinary inspections, and the CREA centres playing pivotal roles in managing the situation.
Although mortality episodes are common in natural reserves of Doñana due to the dense bird populations, García reassured the public that the regional government is acting with “special caution” to protect the environment. Notably, previous avian flu episodes were recorded in the area in 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, in Seville, concern is growing following the discovery of three dead peacocks in the courtyard of the María Inmaculada nursery school in the Real Alcázar. The birds’ remains have been removed for testing to determine if avian flu was the cause. As a precaution, children are currently not allowed outside to avoid contact with the areas where dead and live birds have been spotted.
The Ayuntamiento of Seville also reported deaths of a duck and a peacock in the Alcázar gardens, which have been closed temporarily pending test results due in the next 48 hours. The Regional Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs, Rocío Hernández, urged calm, pointing out it is “very unlikely” that the virus will be transmitted to humans, and that all PCR tests on potential human contacts have so far been negative.
These developments underline the ongoing challenge posed by avian flu to wildlife and public spaces in Andalucía, prompting heightened safety and monitoring efforts across the region.
Image: timtwisted/Pixabay
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