Authorities have ordered the indefinite closure of all rural access to the Serra de Collserola Natural Park from Thursday after a wild boar infected with African swine fever (ASF) was discovered within Barcelona’s municipal boundaries for the first time. The decision marks a significant escalation in the battle against an outbreak that has been spreading through the region’s wild boar population since last autumn.

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The Generalitat de Catalunya announced the drastic measure on Wednesday following confirmation of the new case. The infected animal was found near a previous case in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, but its location inside the Barcelona city limits triggered the new, sweeping restrictions. The closure will prohibit all recreational activities such as hiking, cycling, and running within the park’s natural areas, confining public access to the hard shoulders of paved roads.

In a press conference at the Catalan Parliament, Minister for Agriculture Òscar Ordeig confirmed the move was necessary to contain the virus. “We have to extend the restrictions to the entire Collserola natural park,” he stated, explaining the decision was based on technical advice to treat the vast park as a single, indivisible “block”.

A Widening Containment Zone

The discovery brings the total number of municipalities within the high-risk containment zone to 18, spanning the counties of Vallès Occidental, Baix Llobregat, and the Barcelonès. While access is now heavily restricted, Ordeig reassured residents and workers in the area. “People will be able to get to businesses, facilities, and public transport stops,” he said, adding that authorities are coordinating with local police to manage access points and launch an information campaign for citizens.

The outbreak of African swine fever, a highly contagious viral disease fatal to pigs and wild boar but harmless to humans, began in November 2025. Authorities identified the initial cases near the campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Since then, official figures from the Department of Agriculture confirm more than 220 wild boars have tested positive.

This latest case marks the fourth time in a month that the virus has breached the established perimeter, a troubling sign for containment efforts. As Barna.News previously reported, restrictions have progressively expanded as new cases have emerged outside the initial zero zone.

Drastic Measures and Economic Stakes

Minister Ordeig defended the government’s strategy, noting that the virus’s spread southwards was an “expected” possibility, which they consider “favourable” as it helps concentrate control efforts in a more defined area. “It was impossible to seal off the entire forest area,” he admitted, as reported by El País.

The containment strategy now includes a plan to cull all wild boar colonies within the affected area before the summer begins. The government has already spent €40 million on animal hunts and carcass removal to reduce the boar population and limit the spread of the disease. The cull represents a significant step-up in these efforts, a move detailed in the Barna.News report on the planned Collserola wild boar cull.

Despite the alarming spread among wild animals, authorities have stressed that Catalonia’s domestic pig farms remain free of the virus. However, the outbreak has already had severe economic repercussions. The region’s vital pork industry faces an export ban to 15% of its international markets. This prohibition will remain in place for at least one year after authorities detect the last positive ASF case, a goal that appears increasingly distant as the virus continues to advance.

Ordeig confirmed he had informed both Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni and Catalan President Salvador Illa of the situation, signalling a coordinated, high-level response to protect both public health and the region’s economy.