The Generalitat, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fishing, has decided to strengthen prevention against Newcastle disease by updating the poultry health program of the Valencian Community, with the aim of increasing the protection of livestock farms, minimizing the risk of virus spread, and safeguarding the continuity of the productive activity of the sector.
The modification of the annual zoosanitary plan for 2026, approved by the General Directorate of Agricultural and Livestock Production, introduces new vaccination guidelines in the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia, regardless of whether the farms are located within or outside the restriction zones established due to the appearance of outbreaks, as the Generalitat has stated in a statement.
These new indications contemplate a minimum of three applications of live vaccine by spray or atomization for fast-growing broilers, in addition to an initial vaccination with recombinant or vectorized vaccine. In the case of slow-growing chickens, between three and five applications of live vaccine are established, to which the initial vaccination is also added.
For laying hens and breeding flocks in the laying phase, a revaccination with live vaccine is set with a maximum interval of six weeks. In flocks intended for laying or reproduction during rearing, at least two applications of inactivated vaccine and three of live vaccine are determined. In fattening turkeys, the minimum schedule contemplated will be five applications of live vaccine.
The execution of these guidelines will correspond to the veterinary personnel of each farm, who will act under their responsibility and in accordance with the authorized conditions of use of the medications. In addition, commercial laying farms will be required to carry out serological controls to verify the immune response of replacement birds, while official veterinary services will be responsible for checking compliance with the established health programs.
The resolution also sets a schedule for adaptation for the herds already present on the farms. The responsible veterinary staff must define it within a maximum period of ten calendar days from the entry into force of the measure, taking into account the vaccines previously administered, the age of the birds, and the time remaining until the end of the production cycle.
Vaccination is conceived as a complement to biosecurity measures, surveillance, and reporting of suspicions, but it does not replace them. For this reason, the obligation to immediately report any signs compatible with the disease and to comply with the official measures that are applied in the event of a suspicion or confirmation is maintained, including movement restrictions, the culling of affected animals, and cleaning and disinfection actions.