The propagation of spiral waves in two-dimensional reactive-diffusive media subject to a velocity field with straining and no-flux boundary conditions is studied numerically. It is shown that, at low strain rates, the spiral wave preserves its integrity, whereas, at moderate ones, the spiral wave is deformed and transformed into a curved front which propagates almost along one of the principal directions of the strain rate tensor. At large strain rates, corner layers and elliptical fronts that become planar ones are observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.