In recent days, residents of Perles del Río and La Marañosa in the municipality of Getafe have witnessed a disturbing scene: the banks and waters of the Manzanares River are literally strewn with the bodies of dead storks. Hundreds of birds were found dead between Thursday and Saturday, alarming both locals and experts. The first reports of the mass die-off came from local police officers who noticed a large number of bird carcasses floating in the water.
One of the firefighters involved in the cleanup said that in just one shift, he had to remove about 250 dead storks from the water. Colleagues on other shifts added another 50 to 100 birds to that count, and then another hundred. Most of the birds died over the course of several days, although there were also decomposing bodies and signs of bites from other animals.
Authorities’ response
The government of the Community of Madrid has confirmed that the cause of death was an outbreak of avian flu. Firefighters from Arganda, as well as their colleagues from Aranjuez and Alcalá de Henares, were brought in to deal with the aftermath. They were tasked with retrieving the dead birds from the water and leaving them on the bank, so that forest inspectors could later collect them.
Despite the official confirmation of the diagnosis, the situation is causing concern among experts and ordinary citizens. Test results have yet to be published, and there is no monitoring of those who came into contact with infected birds, even though TYBEK protective suits were used.
Lack of information
The regional Ministry of Environment stated that laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of a low-pathogenic avian influenza virus. According to them, in such cases, it is not necessary to inform the national-level ministry. However, under the classification of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, it is the highly pathogenic strains that cause severe symptoms and mass fatalities, as is currently observed in Manzanares.
Madrid authorities insist that the risk of infection for the public is minimal, and that the virus is only rarely transmitted to humans. Nevertheless, firefighters and experts have expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and health monitoring for those who had to handle the dead birds.
Municipal response
The Getafe municipality was the first to report the mass death of storks, yet it still has not received official lab results. The mayor, Sara Hernández, sent a letter to the regional councilor Carlos Novillo, expressing her concern over the situation, but has not yet received a response.
There is particular concern that the site of the mass bird deaths is located next to a popular biking path and dog-walking area. Some experts suspect the outbreak may be linked to the nearby Valdemingómez waste incineration plant, though there is no official confirmation of this theory.
A nationwide problem
Cases of storks contracting avian flu have been reported in various regions of the country. Over the past year, similar incidents have been recorded in Girona, Doñana, Córdoba, and now in Madrid. Last November, authorities in Madrid were forced to cull nearly half a million chickens at a farm in Valdemoro to stop the virus from spreading. The resulting losses exceeded 800,000 euros.
Spain is considered one of the main hotspots for avian flu in Europe. From summer to November, around 14 outbreaks were detected in the country, affecting more than 2.5 million birds. The most severely impacted regions include Castilla y León, Andalucía, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Madrid.
Economic consequences
Although the situation is gradually stabilizing, the impacts on poultry farmers have been significant. Massive poultry losses have resulted in substantial financial setbacks for producers. Additionally, over the past year, the price of eggs in Spain has risen by 22%, making them the most sharply increased item on the market.
In case you didn’t know, Sara Hernández has served as mayor of Getafe since 2015 and is known for her proactive stance on environmental and urban management issues. She has repeatedly raised concerns about transparency in the work of regional authorities and the protection of residents’ interests. In recent years, Getafe has faced environmental challenges related to industrial sites and the state of the local environment.
