The Veterinary Services of the Generalitat have confirmed four new positive cases of African swine fever in wild boars, raising the total to 372 cases accumulated in 13 municipalities of the province of Barcelona.
African swine fever (ASF) remains active in the province of Barcelona. The Official Veterinary Services of the Generalitat have reported a new outbreak with four positive cases in wild boars, located in municipalities included in restricted zone II, delineated by perimeter fencing. Three of the animals were found dead and a fourth was captured.
With this update, the outbreak has now accumulated 64 outbreaks since its onset, of which three are primary and 61 secondary. In total, 372 positive cases have been recorded across 13 municipalities: Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Terrassa, Rubí, Molins de Rei, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona, Sabadell, El Papiol, Castellbisbal and Esplugues de Llobregat.
To date, 9,465 animals have been analysed, of which 8,019 correspond to specimens captured or culled without clinical symptoms, and 1,446 have been investigated through passive surveillance from carcasses or remains found in the natural environment. All of them have tested negative.
The authorities continue efforts to search for dead wild boars and to reduce the population of this species in the area. Measures include capture traps and population control carried out by specially trained rural agents and hunters, under the supervision of the competent authority.
Work is also ongoing to install and supervise isolation measures, with reinforcement of fencing and other barriers prioritising control in the corridors used by wild boars, adapting to the evolution of the epidemiological situation.
In farms and other pig establishments located in zones I and II, the Official Veterinary Services maintain their usual controls, inspecting biosecurity measures and reinforcing the passive surveillance required by community regulations in commercial operations. To date, no positive cases have been detected in domestic pigs, and most farms in zone II currently remain empty.
The Generalitat maintains a high level of alert, with reinforcement of passive surveillance and biosecurity in both pig farms and wild boar populations in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. It should be noted that ASF is not a zoonotic disease, so people cannot become infected either through contact with animals or by consuming products derived from them.
For residents of the affected municipalities, authorities recommend not to touch dead or symptomatic wild boars and to notify 112 or rural agents. Citizen collaboration is key to preventing the spread of the virus.
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