ASF in Spain: 33 new Cases detected in the high-risk area

Health authorities have confirmed 33 new positive cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boar, bringing the total number of affected animals since the beginning of the outbreak in Catalonia to 195. In addition, three new outbreaks have been declared, all of them located within the previously designated high-risk area.

Epidemiological Situation of African Swine Fever in Wild Boar

With this update, the total number of declared outbreaks rises to 34, of which three are classified as primary and the rest as secondary. Epidemiological control has included the testing of more than 1,400 animals with negative results. These tests have been carried out both through preventive captures of wild boar without clinical symptoms and through passive surveillance actions within and around the affected area. The volume of negative results suggests that the spread of the virus remains limited to the detected clusters.

Control Strategy Against African Swine Fever

In the first weeks of the operational reinforcement in the so-called Zone I, captures have been intensified through traps and coordinated actions between rural officers and hunters specifically trained for this health intervention. The animals culled during this period tested negative by PCR, suggesting that the infection is not widely spread within the intervened population.

At the same time, progress has been made in reinforcing fencing and strategic control points. These infrastructures are designed to prevent the movement of wild boar between affected zones and disease-free areas, thereby reducing the risk of virus spread, without hindering the movement of vehicles and people. Territorial containment remains one of the fundamental pillars in the fight against ASF. Therefore, the current restrictions remain in force in the 16 municipalities within this zone, including Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, Sabadell and part of Barcelona, among other localities.

Situation in Farms and Protection of the Pig Sector

To date, no cases of African Swine Fever have been detected on farms in Catalonia. Inspections carried out on farms located in Zones I and II have ruled out the presence of symptoms or lesions compatible with the disease, confirming the effectiveness of the biosecurity protocols applied.