Newcastle disease: fourth outbreak in the Utiel area raises concerns for Valencia’s poultry sector

A fourth outbreak of Newcastle disease has been confirmed in the Utiel livestock district, in Spain’s Valencia province. The latest case was detected on a broiler farm with 6,072 eight-week-old birds, around 3 km from the previously reported outbreak 2026/38. Mortality on the farm reached 5.48%.

The new case follows three outbreaks reported on 2 October in Fuenterrobles, Utiel and Sinarcas. Tests carried out at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete identified a velogenic strain of the virus. Veterinary authorities responded by culling affected flocks and establishing protection and surveillance zones extending 3 km and 10 km around the affected farms.

In an update published on 7 October, Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) reported that 46 commercial poultry farms fell within the restriction zones, including 32 in the 3 km protection zone and 14 in the 10 km surveillance zone.

The latest outbreaks mark the return of Newcastle disease to Valencia province after a gap of nearly five months. The previous case in the province was reported on 8 May at a laying hen farm in Castelló de Rugat. At the time, it was the tenth outbreak recorded in Spain since December 2025.