Spain Deploys Army To Outside Barcelona To Deal With Swine Fever

Spain has deployed more than 100 military personnel to help control an outbreak of African swine fever detected near Barcelona, raising concerns about the future of the country’s major pork export industry.

The outbreak, confirmed last week after two wild boars tested positive for the disease in Collserola Natural Park, marks Spain’s first reported case of African swine fever since 1994. In response, the national government and Catalonia’s regional officials have taken quick steps to stop the spread.

The Spanish Army’s Military Emergency Unit has sent 117 troops to assist around 300 regional officers already working in the area. Officials say the team will be using drones, disinfecting affected zones, searching for more infected animals, and safely removing carcasses from the region.

Catalonia’s agriculture minister, Oscar Ordeig, announced the military support at a press conference, saying that the joint efforts were focused on preventing the disease from reaching nearby pig farms. He added that access to the park is now restricted, and authorities are currently investigating eight more suspected cases within a four-mile radius of the original discovery.

Experts have suggested that the virus may have been brought in by a contaminated sausage that was transported by road and later eaten by a wild boar, although this theory has not been confirmed. African swine fever does not infect humans, but it is extremely contagious and usually deadly for pigs. If the virus spreads into the commercial pig population, the impact on the pork industry could be severe.

Spain is the world’s third-largest producer of pork and pork products. The country exports nearly three million tonnes of pork every year to more than 100 countries. According to Spain’s national Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas, about one-third of those countries have already stopped importing Spanish pork as a precaution.

Speaking Monday during a visit to Italy, Planas asked the public to stay calm and continue consuming pork, saying the current outbreak is limited to wild animals in one area. However, he also asked for “prudence” from the public to help reduce the risk of the disease spreading to farm animals.