Spain Confirms First African Swine Fever Cases in 30 Years

Spain confirmed its first cases of African swine fever in more than three decades on Friday, when two wild boars tested positive in the Catalonia region near Barcelona, prompting swift emergency measures and international trade restrictions that threaten the country's vital pork industry.

The highly contagious virus, which poses no risk to humans but is often fatal to pigs and wild boars, has no vaccine or cure and typically requires mass culling of infected herds to contain outbreaks. Regional authorities in Catalonia established two perimeters around the affected area and restricted outdoor activities to prevent further spread. The Agriculture Ministry announced restrictions on pork farms within a 20-kilometer radius of the site, affecting operations in a region that accounts for about 7 percent of Spain's pork production.

Agriculture Minister Luis Planas addressed the crisis during a press conference on Saturday, emphasizing the government's priority to minimize economic fallout. "We must focus all our efforts on trying to eradicate, eliminate all possible cases and prevent the spread of the virus," Planas said. He noted that Spain, the world's third-largest producer of pork...