ASF Spain: Catalonia intensifies containment strategy due to expansion of high-risk zone

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (DARPA) confirmed yesterday the detection of seven new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar, one of them located in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, outside the high-risk zone. This means that this municipality and a small part of the Barcelona municipality (the mountainous area of ​​"Can Castellví") must be added to the group of municipalities considered high-risk. Thus, there are now 16 municipalities with this designation.

In total, 162 positive cases have been detected since the first case was declared on November 28.

The emergence of these new cases in the municipalities in the southern part of Collserola forces DARPA to intensify actions in the high-risk area, and it has therefore requested more resources to deploy the operation that has so far been applied in the municipalities in the northern part of Collserola (perimeter closure and isolation strategy with respect to other adjacent areas).

Containment and population control

Given this new scenario, the following operational measures will be implemented:

• Reinforcement of the AP-7 closure in the section between the C-16 and the B-23, and from this road to the urban center of Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
• Construction work is also beginning on a second perimeter fence on the right bank of the Llobregat A2 and via AVE, following the strategy of containing the virus in the northern area of ​​the initial outbreak and the Ministry of Agriculture recommendations.
• Establish a second closing barrier along the C-33–AP7 (Montcada) section to reinforce containment and prevent animals from exiting toward Serra de Marina and the forested and agricultural areas of the Maresme.

Strengthening the strategy with other administrations

Furthermore, the Government has requested additional support from the State to reinforce operational resources to ensure biosecurity, technological capacity, and control of the outbreak.

• An additional disinfection station while a second permanent station is being acquired, for decontaminating vehicles, machinery, and equipment, as well as for access control to hot zones.
• The incorporation of drones equipped with night-vision and thermal cameras to accurately locate specimens, detect residual concentrations and carcasses in rugged areas, and improve the planning of raids.
• Strengthen the capacity for rapid extraction of carcasses through the Military Emergency Unit, with training in biosecurity and handling protocols, and with continuous support.
• The involvement of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Guardia Civil to ensure the culling of captured specimens, as well as compliance with animal welfare safeguards and the legal security of the entire operation.

To intensify capture methods and strategy and extend them across all of Collserola, the Ministry of Agriculture has been asked to involve the TRAGSA group in the procurement, installation, and maintenance of new collective “Pig Brig” traps, which will allow for the group capture of wild boar. In this way, density reduction in the Collserola area can be addressed comprehensively. This request has also been extended to the autonomous communities that have this type of collective trap, as well as to once again seek support from canine units.