The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed nine wild boars dead from African swine fever in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona. Over 400 personnel, including 150 UME military members, are combating the outbreak in a six-kilometer radius in the Collserola mountains. The Catalan government is preparing economic aid for the affected pork sector.
The African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in the Collserola mountains has raised the confirmed dead wild boars to nine, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Central Veterinary Laboratory in Algete (Madrid) validated seven new cases this Tuesday, added to two from last Friday, all in Cerdanyola del Vallès and none on farms. The crisis has mobilized over 400 personnel in Collserola Park, including the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Civil Guard, Mossos d'Esquadra, and Generalitat Rural Agents.
The UME has deployed 150 soldiers from Zaragoza and Madrid, under Lieutenant Colonel Joaquín Núñez's command, to search inch by inch a six-kilometer radius. Divided into 300 by 300 meter grids, the terrain is scoured day and night with drones equipped with thermal cameras. Upon locating carcasses, blood samples are extracted for labs in Barcelona and Madrid, the area is disinfected with an approved liquid, and the animals are incinerated. There are seven sampling stations and three disinfection posts, managed by the group that acted during the pandemic in Catalonia.
For live animals, cages or traps are used, avoiding guns or dogs to prevent dispersal. The Generalitat's contingency plan, reviewed on October 1, foresees drastically reducing wild boar density once the acute phase passes. This Tuesday, the six-kilometer area combing will be completed, followed by a second inspection and extension to 20 kilometers. An expert group will be created along with a hunting plan, plus reinforcing biosecurity on farms.
The pork sector, generating 3 billion euros annually in Catalonia (1 billion to non-EU countries), faces bans like China's on Barcelona province. The government, in a meeting with mayors, offers 50 million in credits from the Institut Català de Finances and an aid package in preparation by counselor Alícia Romero. "This is the fourth day of health alert. We have shown our face, we have been transparent, and we are doing it in a coordinated way," stated counselor Óscar Ordeig. President Salvador Illa oversees from Mexico, coordinating with the central government and EU experts. The origin hypothesis points to food remains or vehicles, possibly from Eastern countries, but it is not confirmed by CRESA.