A large-scale operation is underway in the Collserola forest on the outskirts of Barcelona to identify and contain an outbreak of African swine fever among wild boars. In recent days, specialists have found around fifty dead animals within a specially designated control zone. So far, nine cases of infection have been confirmed, but tests on the remaining carcasses are still ongoing.
Operations are being carried out within a six-kilometer radius from the point where suspicious cases were first detected. The area includes Bellatera and the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès, as well as neighboring woods between highways C-58, AP-7, and C-16. Not only agricultural and environmental services are involved, but also the police and military units from the UME.
Search and containment
The operation to locate dead animals follows a strict protocol: the territory is divided into 300-meter squares, each assigned to a separate team. Specialists thoroughly inspect each section to ensure that no carcass is missed. Chemical and physical barriers are installed along roads and underpasses to prevent infected animals from leaving the zone.
At the same time, police officers are monitoring bridges and other possible routes for wild boar migration. Authorities emphasize that, for now, only searches and examinations of dead animals are being conducted — there have been no large-scale roundups or culling. All carcasses found are sent for laboratory testing to confirm or rule out infection.
Expert intervention
Specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives of the European Commission have arrived in the quarantine zone. They are advising local services on methods for capturing and the potential culling of animals to minimize the risk of the disease spreading. Routes for placing traps have already been mapped out, but a final decision on how they will be used will be made after consultations with the experts.
According to the head of the agent group, the main priority now is making sure the virus does not escape the controlled area. Special attention is being paid to the north, toward Matadepera, because if a breach occurs the infection could spread deeper into Catalonia. The southern direction is considered less dangerous due to natural barriers — the city of Barcelona and the sea.
Causes and scope
Preliminary reports suggest the outbreak may have been caused by contaminated food waste entering the wild. One theory is that wild boars may have eaten sandwich leftovers containing infected sausage. Currently, around a thousand wild boars live in the quarantine area, and experts are concerned that the number of casualties could rise.
Authorities are urging residents and visitors to avoid entering the forests of Collserola in order to not interfere with specialists’ work and prevent further possible spread of the virus. Pork exports from the region have also been temporarily suspended to avoid economic losses and new outbreaks beyond Spain.
Next steps
The situation remains under control for now, but services continue round-the-clock monitoring. All discovered carcasses are thoroughly examined, and the area is patrolled both by air and on the ground. If new infection sites are found, additional safety measures will be introduced.
Residents are reminded to follow sanitary regulations and keep away from areas where specialists are working. Authorities emphasize that African swine fever poses no risk to humans or other animal species, but the situation requires utmost caution and coordinated action from all services.
