A new case of swine fever forces the expansion of the high-risk zone to include parts of Barcelona and Sant Feliu de Llobregat

BarcelonaThe Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed a new case of African swine fever (ASF) outside the area where the first outbreak was detected in Collserola. This is the third positive case outside this high-risk surveillance area, and it was detected in a wild boar found dead in Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Following this infection, the Catalan government (Generalitat) again expanded the high-risk zone to include this municipality and, for the first time, part of the city of Barcelona. Specifically, the Can Castellví area in the Vallvidrera neighborhood, Tibidabo, and Les Planes. With these latest changes announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, there are now a total of 16 municipalities included in the high-risk zone, although in the case of Barcelona, ​​only a portion remains affected. Access to the natural environment for any activity is prohibited throughout this area, but passage is permitted to access homes, conduct business, or visit restaurants and sports facilities.

The infected wild boar located in Sant Feliu de Llobregat represents the third case of African swine fever (ASF) outside the epicenter of the outbreak in Collserola, adding to the two that have already been detected. last week in Molins de Reiand that they were also outside the 6-kilometer radius initially established around the point where the first positive case was found. In fact, following these two positive cases, the high-risk zone was expanded to include Molins de Rei and El Papiol.

Ordeig explained that before finding these positive cases outside the ASF epicenter, experts had already warned that the Molins de Rei and Sant Feliu de Llobregat area was "very difficult to control" because there is "a natural corridor" connecting both areas. However, he assured that the outbreak is easier to contain if it moves south, as is happening so far, than if it moves north.

More resources to hunt across more ground

This week, six more infections have been confirmed in the area previously considered high-risk. Thus, since the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak began eleven weeks ago, a total of 162 cases have been detected, and 13,615 wild boars have been hunted since January 1st. The new infections have not led to any changes in the 20-kilometer radius that defines the low-risk zone, which will continue to encompass the same municipalities as before. One aspect that will change is the Generalitat's strategy within this second radius. Ordeig explained that the fact that the outbreak has spread beyond the original epicenter necessitates extending wild boar culls beyond the 6-kilometer radius they had previously focused on. Therefore, they will now be carried out within a 20-kilometer radius. The regional minister has said that a "drastic and urgent reduction" in the number of wild boars in this area is necessary and, in this regard, has contacted other regions and the national ministry to mobilize "the necessary resources available in Catalonia and outside of Catalonia." Ordeig explained that canine units will be activated and pig traps will be installed to prevent the virus from reaching farms. In fact, the government has already held emergency tenders to acquire traps that can capture several animals at once. For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture has offered the Catalan government resources to increase these captures, such as animal traps and additional personnel for the removal of dead pigs.