PSOE Advocates Health Alert Manual for Avian Flu

The Directorate General for Livestock of the Canary Islands Government has had two portable slaughter containers available since 2023 to act within 24 hours.

The Socialist Party of Fuerteventura is sending a reassuring message to poultry farmers in Pájara and across the island in response to the protective measures against avian influenza that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food activated today, November 10, to prevent the spread of the virus. The party recalls that in 2022 the then‑government of Ángel Víctor Torres updated the Veterinary Health Alert Manual with immediate‑action protocols, specialized personnel, and specific resources such as the two portable slaughter containers acquired for situations like the current one, where rapid response is vital.

José Cabrera, Secretary of Food Sovereignty and Nutrition for the PSOE of Fuerteventura and former Director General of Livestock for the Canary Islands Government, highlighted the medium‑ and long‑term planning work and its real usefulness and importance for society in moments like this.

“Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands can be confident today that, with the activation of preventive measures to avoid the of avian influenza, we have the laboratory technicians and material resources needed since 2022,” he emphasized.

The socialist press note explains that the additional reinforcement measures activated today by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus currently affect only the municipalityara in the Canary Islands. The reason is the observed increase in risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe—especially among wild birds—migratory movements and the drop in temperatures.

It is worth noting that Pájara hosts the Saladar de Jandía, the archipelago’s largest wetland and a key stopover for migratory birds.

The Order APA/2442/2006 of July 27, for zones of special risk and special surveillance, prohibitions such as:

• Using birds of the Anseriformes and Charadriiformes orders as decoys.
• Raising ducks and geese together with other poultry.
• Keeping poultry outdoors (with exceptions).
• Providing water to poultry from open reservoirs that could be accessed by wild birds.