- EU veterinarians have begun an assessment mission of the ASF outbreak in Bellaterra, near Barcelona.
- A 6-kilometer radius zone with access and transport restrictions has been identified.
- Nine cases of ASF have been confirmed in wild boars.
Outbreak assessment by EU specialists
In the Bellaterra area, on the northern outskirts of Barcelona, a group of vets delegated by the EU institutions has started work. Its task is to assess the situation in a demarcated zone with a 6-kilometre radius, where transport restrictions and bio-assurance rules apply. The mission is to determine to what extent the detected cases of ASF in wild boar may affect nearby farms and how further preventive measures should be set.
Local authorities have so far confirmed nine infections among feral pigs. No outbreaks have been detected in pig farms, giving time to strengthen controls and reduce the risk of virus transmission to the production sector.
Consequences for production and export
Spain is the largest producer of pork in the European Union, so any case of ASF poses a significant threat to market stability. The disease outbreak has disrupted exports. Some markets have halted imports of products from restricted regions, while countries such as China have agreed to maintain supplies from areas officially recognised as ASF-free.
Experts estimate that further developments will depend on the effectiveness of measures in the exclusion zone. Keeping the virus exclusively in the feral pig population may allow some trade to be unblocked quickly, while moving it to pig farms could have much more serious consequences for the industry.
