The official veterinary services of the Generalitat of Catalonia have notified the detection of two new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild boarswith one and three animals, respectively, in each of them. Both are located in the vicinity of the foci within the perimeter of the area considered to be at highest risk in the infected zone, which includes the municipalities located within a radius of 20 kilometers.
With these two new focuses, The reported outbreaks rise to five to date, two of them primary and the other three secondary, including a total of 13 positive animals. Furthermore, other 37 dead animals in the area and its surroundings that have negative results.
These findings are the result of intense field work carried out by the Corps of Rural Agents of the Generalitat, with a total of 26 operational work teams, in collaboration with the Military Emergency Unit, the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Civil Guard (SEPRONA) and the Local Police, which includes the search for boar carcasses, monitor unauthorized access to the infected area, disinfection of vehicles and peopleand installation of signs informing of the prohibition of access to the area.
Where is the focus of African swine fever?
As for the performances on pig farmsthe official veterinary services maintain their visits and take samples in the 39 farms located in the infected area, without having detected symptoms or compatible lesions in any of them, inspecting their biosecurity measures.
A high level of alert is maintained with reinforcement of passive surveillance and biosecurity in pig farms and in wild boar populations, both in Catalonia and the rest of Spain.
African swine fever is a non-zoonous disease, that is, people are not susceptible to infection either through contact with animals or by ingestion of products derived from them.
Experts warn that it is necessary extreme biosafety measures in all pig and wild boar farms, and in the transport of animals of this species. Likewise, the obligation to notify the official veterinary services of the autonomous communities of any suspicion that is detected is recalled, both in wild boars and pig farms throughout the national territory.
For more information related to the disease, including characteristic signs, you can visit the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAP) dedicated to the disease at the following link:
For more information about the disease in wild boars and on protocol of action and communication in case of detection jabalies with signs of illness or corpses in it
medium, you can review the wildlife surveillance guide that includes African swine fever among other diseases: guiavigilanciasanitariafaunasilvestre.pdf
