Spanish authorities have reported four outbreaks of bird flu among wild birds in the central region of Madrid, sparking concern as hundreds of dead storks have been collected over recent weeks. In the past 24 hours alone, over a hundred storks have been found deceased. This uptick is part of a broader rise in bird flu incidents across Europe this season, with thousands of cases identified in 29 countries, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
Despite the alarming situation, officials from Madrid’s regional government have indicated that no commercial poultry farms have been impacted so far, and there is no immediate risk to human health. The authorities are taking proactive steps to manage the crisis by safely removing the deceased birds and enforcing strict biosecurity protocols to prevent the virus from spreading.
These storks, which migrate from northern Europe, are suspected carriers of the virus. Historically, highly pathogenic avian influenza has led to the culling of millions of farmed birds globally, disrupting food supplies and escalating prices. However, the transmission of the virus to humans remains rare.
Miguel Higueras Ortega, the head of forestry operations in Madrid, reassured the public that the current situation does not pose a significant risk to human health. He highlighted that there have been no recorded cases of human transmission, and the outbreaks in Spain and beyond are currently not seen as an environmental hazard. Continued monitoring and protective measures are in place to ensure the safety of both wildlife and the general population.
As the situation evolves, the proactive measures taken by authorities provide reassurance that both public health and environmental stability are being prioritized.