02 July 2026
Spain’s poultry sector is on high alert as a highly contagious and virulent resurgence of Newcastle Disease (ND) continues to expand, triggering massive culling operations and prompting aggressive emergency containment protocols. According to the latest data from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the virus has now been confirmed in 19 flocks across the country, collectively involving 1,051,844 birds.
Shift in the Epicenter: From Valencia to Valladolid
The epidemiological landscape of the current crisis is defined by two geographically and genetically distinct waves. The initial phase of the outbreak, which began in late 2025, concentrated primarily in the province of Valencia. However, a sudden and severe shift occurred in June 2026 as the disease breached the Castilla y León region, transforming the province of Valladolid into the primary front of veterinary surveillance. Within a matter of weeks, Valladolid recorded six rapid outbreaks, heavily impacting major poultry hubs.
Genetic Analysis: Dual Incursions of Distinct Genotypes
Crucially, diagnostic evaluations and partial genetic sequencing conducted by the Central Veterinary Laboratory of Algete confirmed that the virus circulating in Valladolid is a highly virulent, velogenic strain belonging to Genotype VII.2
This represents a major epidemiological finding: the Valladolid strain is entirely distinct from Genotype VII.1.1, which was responsible for the earlier outbreaks in Valencia. This genetic variance allows authorities to definitively rule out a direct epidemiological link or transfer between the two regions. Instead, it confirms that Spain has suffered separate, independent introductions of the virus, potentially driven by distinct wild bird migration pathways or separate biosecurity breaches.
|
Outbreak No.
|
Date
|
Place
|
Flock type
|
No. of Birds
|
Notes
|
|
1
|
29/12/25
|
Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
15,000
|
VII.1.1
|
|
2
|
02/01/26
|
Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
28,500
|
VII.1.1
|
|
3
|
02/01/26
|
Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
16,500
|
VII.1.1
|
|
4
|
02/01/26
|
Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
20,100
|
VII.1.1
|
|
5
|
20/01/26
|
Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
75,000
|
VII.1.1
|
|
6
|
09/03/26
|
Terrateig - Province of Valencia
|
Laying hens
|
27,000
|
23 weeks old; VII.1.1
|
|
7
|
09/04/26
|
Ráfol de Salem - Province of Valencia
|
Broilers
|
26,300
|
35-day-old; VII.1.1
|
|
8
|
10/04/26
|
Ráfol de Salem - Province of Valencia
|
Laying hens
|
32,000
|
VII.1.1
|
|
9
|
28/04/26
|
Ráfol de Salem - Province of Valencia
|
Laying hens
|
38,900
|
28 days old; VII.1.1
|
|
10
|
08/05/26
|
Castelló de Rugat - province of Valencia
|
Laying hens
|
20,040
|
VII.1.1
|
|
11
|
15/06/26
|
Province of Valladolid
|
Broilers
|
24,000
|
43 days old; VII.2
|
|
12
|
22/06/26
|
La Pedraja del Portillo - Province of Valladolid
|
Laying hens
|
29,500
|
VII.2
|
|
13
|
22/06/26
|
La Pedraja del Portillo - Province of Valladolid
|
Laying hens
|
49,000
|
VII.2
|
|
14
|
22/06/26
|
Montemayor de Pililla province of Valladolid
|
Broilers
|
9,000
|
44 days old; VII.2
|
|
15
|
22/03/26
|
Íscar – Olmedo - province of Valladolid
|
Laying hens
|
38,650
|
VII.2
|
|
16
|
23/06/26
|
Olmedo - province of Valladolid
|
Laying hens
|
301,191
|
VII.2
|
|
17
|
01/07/26
|
Penafiel
|
Broilers
|
119,604
|
VII.2
|
|
18
|
01/07/26
|
Medina del Campo
|
Broilers
|
39,967
|
VII.2
|
|
19
|
01/07/26
|
Olmedo - province of Valladolid
|
Laying hens
|
141,592
|
VII.2
|
