Catalonia Manages African Swine Fever Outbreak Amid Multiple Agricultural Crises
Catalonia contains African swine fever amid wild boar control efforts and broader agricultural challenges managed by Minister Òscar Ordeig.
- • ASF outbreak in Cerdanyola del Vallés contained within six kilometers with 16 confirmed cases in wild boars.
- • No ASF detected in farms within 20-kilometer surveillance zone, easing spread concerns.
- • Catalonia deploys intensified hunting to reduce wild boar population, opposed by animal groups.
- • Minister Òscar Ordeig manages multiple crises including ASF, avian flu, and nodular dermatitis.
- • Origin investigation suggests ASF came from contaminated food, not lab security failure.
Key details
Spain is currently confronting a challenging agricultural season marked by an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Catalonia alongside other crises such as avian flu and nodular dermatitis. The ASF outbreak, first detected on November 28 in Cerdanyola del Vallés, has been contained within a six-kilometer radius, according to Catalonia's Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) confirmed a total of 16 positive ASF cases in wild boars, all within the initial infection zone, with no virus detected on farms in the 20-kilometer surveillance area, allaying fears of farm infections thus far.
The ASF situation is especially complicated by Catalonia's high wild boar population, estimated at 1.2 million, which could double by 2025. To combat this, the regional government created the Wild Boar Table aiming to reduce the reproductive population of 125,000 through intensified hunting, including the use of silenced firearms in safer zones. However, hunting as a control method faces opposition from groups like ANDA and Greenpeace who warn it might exacerbate virus spread.
Ordeig, known for his active crisis management despite no prior ties to agriculture, has had to juggle this outbreak with other sector challenges such as livestock culling due to nodular dermatitis and chicken confinement owing to avian flu. He has also been instrumental in negotiating fishing rights with the European Union, securing fishing operations for 140 days annually.
Investigations into the ASF source consider contamination from infected food, with genetic analysis linking the strain to a 2007 Georgian virus. Suspicion briefly fell on a local laboratory IRTA-CReSA, but experts have dismissed any biosecurity breaches. The outbreak has already caused substantial economic losses to the Spanish pork industry.
In addressing the sector's difficulties, Ordeig has emphasized the need to reduce bureaucratic obstacles and increase support for farmers. He described managing these intersecting crises as a "marathon" and vowed to maintain vigilance and assistance in the coming months.
Currently, the virus remains confined and monitoring continues. Meanwhile, the government focuses on population control of wild boars and other preventive measures to protect Spain's vital agricultural economy and maintain public confidence in food safety.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
