Health officials in Andalucia are monitoring a small number of people after the discovery of avian flu among dead birds at Parque del Tamarguillo in Sevilla.
Speaking on Onda Cero, the region’s Director General of Public Health, Manuel Fernandez Zurbaran, confirmed that between four and five people are under surveillance, though not all require follow-up.
‘The final list is still being worked on,’ he said.
READ MORE: Fears of Avian flu outbreak in Malaga after 20 dead birds found
The human surveillance protocol has three phases. First, anyone who may have been exposed to sick birds or contaminated environments is identified, assessed and monitored for 10 days.
During that time, they are asked to watch for symptoms such as fever, wear a mask if they appear, and alert public health services for medical referral.
Second, even if no symptoms develop, a PCR test is carried out on day five after exposure to rule out infection.
Finally, anyone who arrives at a health centre with flu-like symptoms and reports prior contact with infected birds or samples is treated as a suspected case.
Advice for the public
Fernandez issued a set of precautionary guidelines for residents:
- Do not feed urban birds in parks or on the street.
- Maintain good hand hygiene.
- Do not touch or handle dead birds found in public areas.
- Notify the council if you spot a dead bird.
- Get the seasonal flu vaccine if you are in a recommended risk group.
He stressed that the risk to the general population remains very low, though caution is needed to minimise risks.
An ‘unprecedented’ outbreak for Sevilla city
The Tamarguillo outbreak marks a first significant urban incident of avian flu in the city.
While the province of Sevilla has seen outbreaks before – with 22 confirmed cases in poultry farms between 2021 and 2022, mainly turkeys and chickens – it has never before struck wildlife in the heart of the capital.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, most human infections worldwide have been isolated cases involving people in direct, unprotected contact with sick animals or contaminated areas.
Crucially, no sustained human-to-human transmission has ever been documented. The ministry’s most recent report, dated 15 July 2025, continues to classify the risk to the public as ‘very low’, rising only to ‘low’ for those in direct occupational exposure.
What avian flu means for birds
Avian flu, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease affecting wild and domestic birds. The virus belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family, with the A(H5N1) strain among the most dangerous. In urban birds such as ducks and geese, it typically causes severe respiratory distress, neurological symptoms and high mortality.
Urban parks with artificial lakes, like Tamarguillo, are especially vulnerable because of the concentration of aquatic birds and the presence of migratory species that can carry the virus. Transmission occurs mainly through respiratory secretions and droppings, spreading rapidly in crowded environments.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
