African swine fever has been confirmed in Barcelona’s Collserola natural park, with authorities maintaining two official cases as a major containment operation continues.
The Catalan government’s Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, stated the priority is to contain the outbreak, following the detection of the first infected wild boar.
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Consequently, over 400 personnel, including military emergency units, are now deployed in the affected zone.
Minister Ordeig clarified the confirmed case count after an erroneous report from the Government Delegation in Catalonia had suggested six cases. “Let’s not have a numbers dance,” he urged during a press conference. He warned, however, that the number of cases could still rise. The focus remains on a six-kilometre radius from the initial detection point, where a first sweep of the area is nearly complete.
Containment Strategy For African Swine Fever
A second sweep will follow the first to ensure no infected boars remain. Officials expressed some relief that previous population control measures were already in place in Collserola. These measures had reportedly halved the local boar population after incidents of animals entering urban areas had proliferated. Furthermore, related incidents involving people were reduced by 70%.
Despite these past efforts, Minister Ordeig acknowledged a persistent “overpopulation” of wild boars across Catalonia, calling for a “permanent and urgent” solution. Accordingly, he announced plans to convene farming organisations and all Catalan mayors to activate a broader population control plan. This move aligns with ongoing concerns about managing the complex interface between urban and natural spaces in the region.
The government is also establishing a scientific expert group, led by the Animal Health Research Centre (CReSA) and the Department of Universities, to evaluate African swine fever vaccine trials and successful containment measures from other regions. Meanwhile, regarding economic aid for affected businesses, the Minister confirmed that an emergency financing line of 50 million euros via the ICF (Institut Català de Finances) remains open from a previous incident.
On the political front, Ordeig defended President Salvador Illa, who is on an institutional trip to Mexico, against criticism for his absence. The Minister revealed he spoke with Illa about fifteen times on Monday, praising his firsthand experience in managing health crises. The Catalan government’s response continues to coordinate with local mayors and interior officials to manage this animal health emergency.
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