The Generalitat has reported four new positive cases of African swine fever in wild boars in the province of Barcelona. The cases raise the total to 372 infected specimens since the outbreak began.
The Official Veterinary Services of the Generalitat of Catalonia have confirmed a new focus of African swine fever (ASF) in the province of Barcelona, with four cases detected in wild boars. Three of the animals were found dead and their remains analysed, while the fourth was captured alive. All of them were located in municipalities included within the area delimited by perimeter fences, as reported by the Department of Agriculture.
With this new focus, the number of outbreaks reported since the disease was detected rises to 64, totalling 372 positive wild boars. The affected municipalities are 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. Most of these localities are located in the regions of Vallès Occidental and Baix Llobregat, which keeps pig farms in the area on high alert.
To date, 9,465 other animals have been analysed, all of which tested negative for ASF. Of these, 8,019 correspond to specimens captured or shot without clinical symptoms, and 1,446 come from passive surveillance, that is, whole carcasses or remains found in the natural environment, as well as animals with symptoms that were culled. These figures reflect the intense fieldwork being carried out to contain the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has detailed that efforts to search for dead wild boars and actions to reduce their populations in the area are ongoing. To this end, capture traps are being used, and there is collaboration with rural agents and specially trained hunters. In addition, fences and other physical barriers have been reinforced, especially in the corridors that wild boars use to move, adapting these measures to the evolution of the epidemiological situation.
The authorities maintain a high level of alert, with particular emphasis on passive surveillance and biosecurity in pig farms, both in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. ASF is a viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boars, with a high mortality rate, but it does not transmit to humans either through direct contact or by consuming derived products. The Ministry reminds that it poses no risk to human health, although it can cause severe economic losses in the livestock sector.
For residents of the province of Barcelona, especially those living in rural or peri-urban areas where cases have been detected, it is recommended to exercise extreme caution when traversing wooded areas and to avoid any contact with dead or sick wild boars. Authorities request that any discovery of a dead wild boar be reported immediately to rural agents or the official veterinary service.
