Catalonia reports first week without African swine fever cases in high-risk zone

The Catalonia Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first full week without new positive cases of African swine fever (ASF) in the designated high-risk zone. This marks a significant milestone, as no positive results were found in the 302 wild boar samples analyzed during the week.

The outbreak was initially detected on November 28, and this development comes approximately nine months after the emergency protocols were activated. While the absence of new cases provides relief to the local swine sector, authorities have not yet specified if this will lead to a relaxation of animal movement restrictions.

Control measures for the virus, which causes high mortality in pigs but is not transmissible to humans, rely on intensive veterinary surveillance, biosecurity, and the management of wild boar populations that act as reservoirs for the disease.