The first two ASF cases were detected last week in wild boar in the Collserola Natural Park near Barcelona. A further seven infected animals in the same area have since been confirmed. Spanish authorities expect more cases to emerge.
Catalan authorities: “There are too many wild boars”
Catalonia’s regional president, Salvador Illa, stated that local authorities have long been working to reduce the wild boar population due to risks to public health and agriculture. However, the ASF outbreak has shown that these efforts must be accelerated.
“There are too many wild boars. We have activated and intensified this work, coordinating with hunting associations and analyzing all scientifically proven methods to reduce the population,” Illa said.
Farmers are concerned about the impact: according to local producer Oriol Rovira, “the crisis could be long and have serious or even irreversible effects on the sector.”
The Catalan government has already opened a €10 million credit line to support affected farmers.
Carcass search and containment: over 400 personnel deployed
Catalonia’s Rural Agents reported that 50 wild boar carcasses have already been found within the ASF containment zone. All are being tested for the virus; so far, nine have been confirmed positive.
More than 400 personnel have been deployed in the operation:
- Rural Agents,
- Forest Defence Groups (ADF),
- Guardia Civil and the UME military emergency unit,
- Local police and Mossos d'Esquadra.
UME units are responsible for disinfecting vehicles and equipment, while the fire service has begun disinfecting forest paths. The restricted zone covers a 6-km perimeter bounded by the C-16, C-58, AP-7 highways and the FGC railway line.
Authorities are also installing physical and chemical barriers to prevent the virus from spreading through the green corridor toward the Sant Llorenç del Munt Natural Park.
How it spread: likely a “sandwich” from a truck driver
According to Catalonia’s health minister Òscar Ordeig, the most likely source of the outbreak is contaminated food waste brought from abroad.
“The most likely scenario is that a wild boar ate a sandwich or cured meat contaminated with the virus that someone discarded,” the minister said.
This explains why all cases are confined to a single area and have not been found elsewhere in Catalonia or neighboring France.
PigUA.info based on catalannews.com