Martínez Avilés, MartaPérez, A. M.De la Torre, AnaIglesias Martín, IreneSánchez-Vizcaíno Rodríguez, José ManuelMuñoz Reoyo, María Jesús2023-06-202023-06-2020110950-268810.1017/S0950268810001287https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42665Early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in its natural reservoirs is a prerequisite for preventing disease spread to humans. The risk of introduction of H5N1 HPAI was assessed in order to design a risk-based surveillance system in Spain. Areas at highest risk for H5N1 HPAI followed a northeast–southwest direction, with two significant clusters located in the north and the southwest of the country. Most (83%) of the veterinary units (VUs) obtained fewer samples than would have been expected if samples had been collected using a risk-based design. In October 2009, a HPAI outbreak was reported for the first time in a Spanish layer farm located in a VU at high risk for HPAI, but no samples were collected. This risk-based surveillance approach will increase the cost-effectiveness of HPAI surveillance in Spain and can be easily extended to and adopted by other countries and regions throughout the world.engjournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268810001287restricted accessAvian flurisk assessmentspatial modellingsurveillance systemveterinary epidemiologyVeterinaria3109 Ciencias Veterinarias