On Monday, representatives of Andalusia’s agricultural sector were called to an emergency meeting to address the situation with African swine fever. The reason was an unexpected discovery: in late November, two dead wild boars with a confirmed diagnosis were found in the Bellaterra area, in the province of Barcelona. These are the first cases of the disease in Spain since 1994.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of Andalucía has urged everyone involved in pig and wild boar farming, as well as those transporting animals, to immediately tighten biosecurity measures. Special emphasis is being placed on promptly reporting any suspected cases of illness or animal deaths to the official services of the autonomous communities.
First outbreak in decades
The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has come as a real shock to Spain’s agricultural sector. The disease poses no risk to humans but causes serious damage to livestock farming. The outbreak was confirmed by a laboratory in Madrid after information about the infected animals came from veterinary services in Cataluña.
According to European classification, African swine fever is classified as a category A disease. This means EU countries are required to immediately implement strict measures to localize and eliminate sources of infection. Investigations are already underway in Spain to determine how the virus reached wild boar in Cataluña.
Spread in Europe
African swine fever has remained a serious issue for European countries for several years. Since 2014, the virus has spread throughout the Baltic states and Poland, entering from Russia. The disease is currently reported among wild boars and domestic pigs in 13 countries, including Italy, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia.
Despite the challenging situation, some countries have managed to achieve success in combating the virus. Belgium, Sweden, and Czechia have announced the successful eradication of outbreaks after implementing strict restrictions and comprehensive control over wild boar populations. In Spain, however, the virus was detected after a long hiatus, causing particular concern among experts.
Response Measures
After dead animals were discovered near the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, response protocols were immediately activated. Authorities designated an infected area where hunting is prohibited to prevent wild boars from migrating to safer regions. Restrictions on any non-essential activities in the area have also been put in place.
As part of efforts to curb the infection, authorities are actively searching for and removing wild boar carcasses under the supervision of veterinary services. Inspections and biosecurity at pig farms have been strengthened, and official visits by specialists have been organized to monitor the situation on the ground.
Control and Prevention
Authorities remind the public that African swine fever does not transmit to humans, either through contact with animals or through pork products. However, the consequences for livestock farming can be devastating: the disease spreads rapidly and leads to mass deaths among animals.
Farmers and livestock transporters are urged to exercise maximum caution, regularly disinfect vehicles and equipment, and immediately notify veterinary services of any suspected cases. Additional briefings and inspections are scheduled to take place soon at all major pig farms in the region.
