Two cases of African swine fever detected outside the epicenter, expanding the high-risk area

BarcelonaThe government has detected two new cases of African swine fever (ASF) outside the initial area affected by Bellaterra. This is the first time. since the outbreak was detected in November Two new cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been detected outside the initial "ground zero" (the 6 km radius around the point where the first positive case was found). These two cases were detected in a residential area of ​​Molins de Rei, 2 km from the boundary of the area previously considered high-risk. Given this new situation, the Catalan government has decided to expand the high-risk zone to include Molins de Rei and El Papiol. This was announced on Friday in Lleida by Minister Òscar Ordeig, who specified that there are "no farms affected" within the new radius. Beyond the two cases registered outside the initial radius, eleven new positive cases have also been detected within it, bringing the total number of wild boars with the virus to 155. To date, twelve municipalities were within the high-risk zone, and now Molins de Rei and El Papiol have been added, where access to the natural environment will be restricted starting this Friday. Ordeig announced that the containment measures will be reinforced with new closures on the N-2 and B-23 highways, and that raids will continue in the low-risk zone (the 20 km radius from ground zero).

Despite the discovery of these two positive cases outside the initial area, the Ministry of Agriculture has assured that this "does not represent a significant epidemiological change compared to the previous situation" and has noted that positive cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been found in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Terrassa, Rubí, and Molins de Rei. Similarly, Minister Ordeig admitted that the detection of positive cases outside the epicenter was "foreseeable," but that the greatest concern was the potential spread of the virus northward or into the Serra de Marina mountain range.

Increased surveillance

However, both the Government and the Ministry have insisted on remaining vigilant: "A high level of alert is being maintained with reinforced passive surveillance and biosecurity measures in pig farms and wild boar populations, both in Catalonia and the rest of Spain," the Ministry stated in a press release. As part of this surveillance, 1,048 additional cases have been analyzed, all of which have tested negative. Of these, 624 correspond to captured animals and 424 were investigated through passive surveillance (dead animals) in the infected area and its surroundings. The Government has ordered an expansion of the operational plan with increased personnel and resources for capturing and recovering carcasses, reinforced surveillance, and new infrastructure closures. The Ministry also detailed the creation of a second containment barrier around Collserola, controlling animal crossings, including those on the AP-7, A-2, C-58, and Barcelona's Ronda de Dalt ring road. Over 180 high-risk crossing points have been identified along these fences, where additional barriers have been installed to prevent wild boar from entering or leaving the area. Furthermore, to reduce wild boar populations, captures began last week in the low-risk zone in collaboration with local councils and hunting associations, and will be intensified this week. The two new positive cases come after last week's state report on the origin of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Catalonia. He ruled out that the spread of the virus was the result of a leak in the IRTA laboratories, as had been previously speculated. In fact, the initial report commissioned by the State further reinforced the sandwich hypothesis – the possibility that the origin of the ASF virus outbreak was a contaminated food product.