Ducks experiencing another mass mortality event in a park's pond, Malaga City

In the heart of Andalusia, the City Council of Malaga has taken swift action following the detection of suspected avian flu outbreaks in local wetlands. Over the past weekend, approximately twenty ducks, coots, and seagulls were found dead in the city's parks, sparking concerns and raising suspicions.

The Territorial Delegation of Sustainability and Environment of the Andalusian Regional Government has voiced its concerns, suspecting that the bird deaths may be due to an outbreak of avian flu. To address this potential threat, the City Council has decided to close Parque de Huelin on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.

The municipal government has also informed the companies in charge of the maintenance and conservation of the city's green areas to reinforce surveillance in all wetlands. One such company, Raga Medio Ambiente, responsible for the Cadiz Road district, had not reported the bird deaths initially but proceeded to remove the dead specimens and reinforce surveillance after being requested.

The City Council has also taken the step of contacting Raga Medio Ambiente this week to report the bird deaths. Samples of the dead birds and water from the pond were sent to the Wildlife Analysis and Diagnosis Center of the Andalusian Regional Government for testing.

Meanwhile, the Avian Influenza Surveillance Program in Spain 2025 requires the immediate removal and testing of any sick or dead animals that are considered unusual, suspicious, or doubtful. The samples have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza for analysis.

The city is not alone in its vigilance. An avian flu outbreak has been confirmed in the Parque del Tamarguillo in Seville, and the city has reinforced surveillance in green areas with ponds and lakes frequented by birds.

The results from the laboratory are still pending, but preliminary investigations suggest that the avian influenza likely involved in the recent outbreak in Málaga is the highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 strain, which has been recently detected in Spain, including regions near Málaga.

The City Council will take necessary actions once the analysis results are known, in coordination with the protocols established by the Andalusian Regional Government and the ministries of Agriculture and Health. The Council urges the public to stay informed and to report any unusual bird deaths to the appropriate authorities.