Spain’s agriculture ministry has confirmed its first case of the lethal strain of bird flu.
The virus was detected in a great crested grebe found dead in the northern province of Alava.
Spanish authorities said there was no cause for alarm, and the tourist board in the UK said it was too early to comment.
The lethal H5N1 virus has spread to birds in many European countries and killed more than 130 people since 2003, mostly in East Asia.
It has significantly hit tourism in the countries already affected, particularly Turkey.
Last year, Spanish officials said it was “only a matter of time” before bird flu spread to the country because it is on a key migration route from Africa.
By Bev Fearis
