Spain deploys military to help contain swine fever in Barcelona

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain on Monday deployed its military to the province of Barcelona to help contain the spread of the African swine fever virus.

The virus – eradicated from Spain for 31 years – was confirmed Friday in two wild boars found dead in Collserola natural park, north of the Catalan capital.

Catalan Agriculture Minister Oscar Ordeig said Monday it is “highly probable” that the outbreak originated from contaminated food discarded in the garbage and later eaten by wild boars.

Spain, the EU’s largest pork exporter, ships to 104 countries. But Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas said Saturday that around one-third of the country’s export licenses have been suspended due to the outbreak. Chinese media reported that China, Spain’s biggest client, has halted pork imports from 12 Barcelona companies.

Ordeig confirmed that 40 more wild boars have been tested for the virus in the area, with two confirming positive for the virus and eight appearing suspicious. No domestic pigs have so far tested positive.

To curb the spread, 117 military personnel and 25 vehicles are now assisting Catalan authorities in capturing and monitoring wild boar populations within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) perimeter, which officials say may be expanded.

On Monday, the European Commission also urged Spain to comply with EU protocols and said it would send veterinary experts to the affected area on Tuesday.

African swine fever is harmless to humans but highly contagious and fatal to pigs and wild boar.

The virus currently affects 13 other EU countries, including Italy and Germany. The European Food Safety Authority warns it can take years to eradicate and that neither vaccines nor treatments exist.

Spain is also battling a major bird flu outbreak, which has sent the price of eggs soaring. In November, it ordered the confinement of all farm birds.