The swine fever outbreak that has been infecting wild boars in Collserola since November continues to spread. The Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat has increased restrictions on access to the natural environment in Castellbisbal (Barcelona) after an infected wild boar was detected within the municipality. In fact, the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, announced this Wednesday that 16 new cases of infected wild boars have been located in the last week, bringing the total to 284 cases since the outbreak began.
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With the location of a contaminated wild boar in Castellbisbal, the risk zone expands from 18 to 19 municipalities, and therefore, mobility restrictions. In fact, this Wednesday, the ministry contacted the mayor of Castellbisbal and a resolution was signed to prohibit public access to the natural environment of this locality. The same resolution remains in force in the other 18 affected municipalities, including Barcelona.
The authorities stated, on several occasions, that the prohibition of access to rural areas was not for revenue collection purposes and that security forces would be pedagogical with the population attempting to access forests and unpaved roads. Nevertheless, the first nine economic sanctions have already been issued to people who have violated the restrictions, and Ordeig emphasized that the “authorities will sanction everyone” who fails to comply with the prohibition. The minister announced that access surveillance will be tightened. Ordeig recalled the danger of accessing areas like Collserola Park at night, when culls are being carried out to eliminate animals, and reminded that following instructions is also to “guarantee people’s safety”.
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The head of agriculture announced that an emergency contract of seven million euros has been activated, which will allow reinforcing the ASF control device with 170 new personnel, and more than 50 vehicles and another 50 traps.
Although each positive case delays the opening of the pork market in some international markets by 12 months, Ordeig expressed satisfaction with the recovery of pork meat prices, which are three cents below what they were before the first cases of infection were detected, and the opening of exports of new pork products to China, one of the largest importers in the Catalan market: “It is an endorsement of the work and strategy being carried out”.
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