The African swine fever outbreak continues to affect Catalonia, with four new cases confirmed in wild boars. Consequently, the total number of infected animals has now reached 64. Meanwhile, pig producers in the region face mounting financial pressure, losing approximately €63 million in December alone due to market disruptions.
Officials detected the new positive cases within the existing containment zone near Cerdanyola. The reference laboratory for Spain confirmed the results, indicating the virus remains active within the local wildlife population. However, authorities report that no livestock farms in the restricted export zone have tested positive for the disease. This discovery follows recent reports confirming thirteen new African swine fever cases in Collserola’s wild boar population.
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African Swine Fever Outbreak Contained Within Wild Population
The government’s latest data shows all 64 confirmed cases are located within a six-kilometre radius of the initial detection site. This geographic containment is critical for the region’s agricultural status. While export restrictions remain in place for the affected zone, the absence of cases in domestic pigs suggests biosecurity measures on farms are currently effective.
Veterinary teams continue to search the area for wild boar carcasses to track the virus spread. According to the latest report from VilaWeb, the government maintains all current restrictions while preparing new population control measures.
Economic Pressure on Producers from African Swine Fever Outbreak
The agricultural union Unió de Pagesos has highlighted the severe economic toll of the African swine fever outbreak. Before the disease appeared, producers earned an average profit of €26 per pig. They now face a loss of €36 per animal due to market restrictions and falling prices in the affected zones. These financial difficulties compound the challenges from the recent wave of Catalan farmer protests, which highlighted other economic strains on the sector.
Farmers in the Barcelona radius and the surrounding 20-kilometre detection zone are bearing the heaviest costs. Therefore, the union warns that if control measures extend throughout 2026 as expected, total losses for the sector could multiply twelvefold compared to the December figures.
Strategy to Reduce Wild Boar Numbers Amid Outbreak
To address the reservoir of the virus, the Generalitat recently established the ‘Taula del Senglar’ (Wild Boar Table). This body plans to reduce the wild boar population by 50% through targeted actions in specific territories. In addition, the group will meet at least twice a year to monitor progress and adjust capture strategies based on local data.
Administrative data indicates that hunters and officials captured more than 63,000 wild boars during the 2024-2025 season. Furthermore, the government authorises approximately 1,500 exceptional actions annually to prevent agricultural damage, resulting in the capture of 6,000 specimens outside the ordinary hunting season. These efforts will now intensify to prevent the further spread of the virus. Beyond the impact on agriculture, the outbreak has led to the cancellation of mountain races and other public events in the affected areas.
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