African Swine Fever Hits Wild Boars Near Barcelona

An outbreak of African swine fever has struck wild boars near Barcelona, marking the disease's return to Spain after three decades and prompting swift containment measures to safeguard the country's vital pork industry.

Authorities confirmed two cases of the virus in dead wild boars found in the Collserola Natural Park in Bellaterra, on the outskirts of Barcelona in Catalonia, over the weekend. Eight more animals with suspected infections are under examination, potentially raising the total to 14 if tests prove positive. The highly contagious virus, which is fatal to pigs and wild boars but poses no risk to humans, has not yet affected any domestic pigs on farms. Officials believe the outbreak likely began when a wild boar consumed contaminated food, such as a discarded sandwich or cold cuts, left by hikers in the wooded area popular with weekend visitors and near major highways.

Catalan regional farm minister Òscar Ordeig described the scenario as probable, stating, "The most likely option is that cold cuts, a sandwich, contaminated food, could end up in a bin and then that a wild boar would have eaten it and become infected." The park, home to around 900 wild boars, was...