Commonground
Senior Moderator
Translated, emphasis is mine
7 de Septiembre de 2025
The Regional Ministries of Health and Consumer Affairs; Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; and Sustainability and Environment have announced that they are finalizing an action protocol to inform municipalities of the steps to follow in the event of suspected outbreaks of avian flu in urban and peri-urban parks where there are poultry, residential wild birds, other captive birds, or bodies of water such as ponds or lagoons.
The protocol was announced following the deaths of birds in Malaga, Seville, and Huelva, where cases of the disease have already been confirmed.
The Regional Government reminds that these surveillance and control measures are the "responsibility of the affected municipalities." As park owners, they will establish measures regarding the care and maintenance of resident birds; the condition of the bodies of water; workers in contact with birds, their housing and cleaning, as well as the public.
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs will provide city councils with signs with instructions for the general public, which must be posted at park entrances. These instructions include prohibiting feeding birds, avoiding direct contact with them, keeping pets on a leash and away from birds; avoiding touching areas soiled with bird droppings; maintaining proper hand hygiene; not touching carcasses; and notifying a park employee if you find a dead bird.
The protocol also establishes specific measures in the event of a suspected outbreak of avian influenza, including the detection of carcasses, collection, disposal, and cleaning and disinfection of the area. This includes informing the territorial delegations or the Regional Agricultural Offices (OCA). In addition, the city council or farm owner must identify exposed individuals, compile a list, and temporarily close the area. The reopening of these areas will be decided jointly.
In the event of a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza, the city council or farm owner must transmit the list of exposed individuals to the Territorial Delegation of Health and Consumer Affairs so that the established human surveillance protocol can be initiated, which begins with an assessment of the risk of infection for those exposed.
After the city council or farm owner identifies potential contacts, the Health Department assesses each case and monitors the individuals exposed to these birds or contaminated environments for 10 days, monitoring for possible symptoms and the onset of fever.
In parallel (even when symptoms do not appear), five days after exposure, the Health Department performs a specific PCR test to determine if the virus is present in these individuals. To date, since the outbreak of avian influenza in Seville's Tamarguillo Park was confirmed, 10 PCR tests have been performed on humans, all of which have been negative.
Suspected cases are also identified in individuals who come to their health center with symptoms consistent with influenza and report having been in contact with sick birds or samples.
continued: https://www.elindependientedegranad...ión General de Salud,de una veintena de focos.
7 de Septiembre de 2025
The Regional Ministries of Health and Consumer Affairs; Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; and Sustainability and Environment have announced that they are finalizing an action protocol to inform municipalities of the steps to follow in the event of suspected outbreaks of avian flu in urban and peri-urban parks where there are poultry, residential wild birds, other captive birds, or bodies of water such as ponds or lagoons.
The protocol was announced following the deaths of birds in Malaga, Seville, and Huelva, where cases of the disease have already been confirmed.
The Regional Government reminds that these surveillance and control measures are the "responsibility of the affected municipalities." As park owners, they will establish measures regarding the care and maintenance of resident birds; the condition of the bodies of water; workers in contact with birds, their housing and cleaning, as well as the public.
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs will provide city councils with signs with instructions for the general public, which must be posted at park entrances. These instructions include prohibiting feeding birds, avoiding direct contact with them, keeping pets on a leash and away from birds; avoiding touching areas soiled with bird droppings; maintaining proper hand hygiene; not touching carcasses; and notifying a park employee if you find a dead bird.
The protocol also establishes specific measures in the event of a suspected outbreak of avian influenza, including the detection of carcasses, collection, disposal, and cleaning and disinfection of the area. This includes informing the territorial delegations or the Regional Agricultural Offices (OCA). In addition, the city council or farm owner must identify exposed individuals, compile a list, and temporarily close the area. The reopening of these areas will be decided jointly.
In the event of a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza, the city council or farm owner must transmit the list of exposed individuals to the Territorial Delegation of Health and Consumer Affairs so that the established human surveillance protocol can be initiated, which begins with an assessment of the risk of infection for those exposed.
After the city council or farm owner identifies potential contacts, the Health Department assesses each case and monitors the individuals exposed to these birds or contaminated environments for 10 days, monitoring for possible symptoms and the onset of fever.
In parallel (even when symptoms do not appear), five days after exposure, the Health Department performs a specific PCR test to determine if the virus is present in these individuals. To date, since the outbreak of avian influenza in Seville's Tamarguillo Park was confirmed, 10 PCR tests have been performed on humans, all of which have been negative.
Suspected cases are also identified in individuals who come to their health center with symptoms consistent with influenza and report having been in contact with sick birds or samples.
continued: https://www.elindependientedegranad...ión General de Salud,de una veintena de focos.