The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat of Catalonia has confirmed 2 new positives for African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars during the last week. Both animals were located in the cataloged high-risk area, specifically in the municipalities of Castellbisbal and Molins de Rei (Barcelona), as detailed by the department this Thursday in a statement.
During these days, 294 samples from wild boars have been processed, of which 292 have been negative and 2 have tested positive, representing an infection rate of 0.7%. With these new findings, the total number of wild boars infected by the virus amounts to 322 since the first case was identified in Catalonia.
During the last week, 431 wild boars have also been captured in high and low-risk areas. The Agents Rurals and the Mossos d'Esquadra participate in these actions in a coordinated manner, along with hunting societies, the Grup Especial de Prevenció d'Incendis Forestals (Gepif), and wildlife control teams, which are responsible for reducing the density of susceptible wildlife.
The department has underlined the importance of extending the open hunting season until the month of June, approved last week, with the aim of reinforcing the control of the wild boar population and improving prevention against the spread of the virus.
To maximize captures in the high-risk area, which currently includes 19 Catalan municipalities, various capture devices have been deployed. In total, 26 individual traps, 34 collective traps, and 327 barriers have been installed, with the objective of containing the advance of ASF in wildlife.