Starting this Monday, Spain is strengthening its fight to curb the spread of avian flu, after more than two million farm birds were culled in recent months, and will do so by implementing new measures such as confining poultry in 1,199 municipalities located in areas of special risk.
In the Canary Islands, the only municipality obliged to confine its chickens is Pájara, in Fuerteventura, due to its status as an area for the passage and concentration of migratory birds
However, the regional Executive explained that although they are not mandatory, the recommendations for backyard poultry in all of the Canary Islands to remain indoors are still in place.
The Ministry of Agriculture will exceptionally allow the use of codes 0 and 1 for organic and free-range hen eggs to avoid losing market value.
As indicated by the regional Executive, in the case of the Canary Islands, the declaration has exclusive scope in the municipality of **Pájara**, where **wetlands and coastal areas of ornithological interest** have been identified, placing it on said **state list**.
All measures for protection against avian influenza provided for in the corresponding Order have been activated there, which includes a series of prohibitions and obligations in areas of special risk and special surveillance.
For the rest of the territory, both the Canary Islands Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recall the need to step up biosecurity measures on poultry farms, especially those aimed at preventing contact with wild birds, as well as reinforcing passive surveillance, and notifying any suspected disease to the official veterinary services as soon as possible.