No wild boar tests positive for African swine fever for the first time in nine months
The Government maintains for now the restrictions on access to the natural environment
BarcelonaNine months after the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Catalonia, some good news is beginning to arrive. The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food announced this Thursday that for the first time since November 28, no positive cases have been detected this week within the high-risk zone. In total, 302 wild boar samples have been analyzed. All have tested negative.
Although the Catalan executive considers that the result reinforces confidence in the eradication strategy and the biosecurity measures deployed, it warns that the outbreak cannot yet be considered overcome. For this reason, despite experiencing the first week without positives, the current restrictions and the eradication strategy remain unchanged. In this regard, access to natural areas in the high-risk zone municipalities remains restricted.
The high-risk zone comprises 19 municipalities: Badia del Vallès, Barberà del Vallès, Cerdanyola del Vallès, el Papiol, Molins de Rei, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Montcada i Reixac, Polinyà, Ripollet, Rubí, Sabadell, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Terrassa, Sant Just Desvern, Esplugues de Llobregat, Castellbisbal and the enclave of Barcelona and the accesses to the Collserola Natural Park.
10,727 wild boars captured
During the last week, 333 wild boars have been captured within the infected zone, which includes high and low-risk areas. With these specimens, the total number of captures since the start of the operation rises to 10,727 animals. The operations are carried out by Rural Agents, Mossos d'Esquadra, hunting societies, the Special Group for the Prevention of Forest Fires (GEPIF), Tragsa, and other wildlife control teams.