Forests are closed in 12 municipalities due to swine fever outbreaks

BarcelonaCatalonia implements further restrictions to prevent the spread of African swine fever. The Catalan government's Department of Agriculture has banned outdoor activities within a six-kilometer radius of the area where the virus has been found. Two wild boars died from the diseaseThe measure affects twelve municipalities: Sabadell, Sant Quirze, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Montcada i Reixac, Ripollet, Barberà, Cerdanyola, Sant Cugat, Terrassa, and Rubí. In this area, the Catalan government has established a complete closure of access to the natural environment, suspending all hunting and forestry work, and prohibiting any activity in rural areas. Access to the entire Collserola Park for leisure activities is also restricted. The government has also stated that it will deploy physical and chemical barriers, traps for wild boar control, and activate joint operations with the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), Seprona (Nature Protection Service of the Civil Guard), and technicians from the Department of Agriculture. In a second security perimeter, this one with a 20-kilometer radius around the infection's epicenter and affecting 64 municipalities, leisure activities, hunting, and those linked to biodiversity are also restricted, and any actions that could interfere with population control and biosecurity efforts are prohibited.

Advice in the affected municipalities

The Department of Agriculture convened an emergency meeting with the mayors of the affected municipalities, the Barcelona Provincial Council, the county councils, and the management of Collserola Park to coordinate actions and ensure the maximum effectiveness of the operation. The Catalan Government advises the affected municipalities to intensify the cleaning of litter bins and containers, place cat feeders in elevated locations, inform the public that feeding wild boars is prohibited, close picnic areas until further notice, and call 112 if a dead wild boar is found and not to touch it. The Government reiterates that African swine fever does not affect humans, but poses a serious risk to the pig farming sector. Therefore, it requests the cooperation of all citizens and local authorities to guarantee the effectiveness of the measures adopted.