ASF Spain: Total number of infections to 13; pig prices sink
The number of wild boar testing positive for African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in northern Spain risen to 13. The outbreaks have led to a drop in Spain’s pig prices of €0.15/kg carcass weight.
Official data, as shown in the database by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) now show that the tally of infected wild boar has gone up from 2 to 13. In addition, there were also carcasses found of 37 wild boar which turned out to be negative for ASFv.
The first ASF outbreaks were confirmed on Friday, November 28 in and around Bellaterra, as the crow flies at about 15 km from Barcelona, in the autonomous region Catalonia. The new 11 were discovered in their vicinity.
Moderately dense woodland
In press communication, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) explained that the carcasses had been found in an area of moderately dense woodland with a moderate density of wild boar. The area is bordered by a residential area, local roads, and several expressways and highways.
MAPA added that there are 5 commercial pig farms within a 10 km radius around the finding places. The nearest is more than 5 km from the finding places. Within a 10 to 20 km radius, there are a total of 34 swine farms. These farms are under quarantine. So far, all farms have remained unaffected by the disease.
In the meantime, the European Commission expanded the perimeter of the area infected by ASF to 91 Catalan municipalities. This is established in a decision published in the Official Journal of the EU. It lists the towns where, until February 28, 2026, “provisional emergency measures” must be applied to contain the disease. The measure means that during this period, the export of pork products to the EU originating from all these municipalities is prohibited.
Spanish slaughter price plummets
Interestingly, German agricultural title Top Agrar quoted price quotations from the German Pig Producers’ Association (ISN). According to ISN, the Spanish price quotation has plummeted by €0.15/kg carcass weight as a result of the outbreak. That price drop reflects the limited export opportunities resulting from the ASF outbreak.
On the upside, the United Kingdom has announced to reopen its markets for pork from all areas that are unaffected by African Swine Fever, reported news agency Reuters.
MAPA opening investigation
MAPA also announced to open a new investigation into the origin of the ASF. In a news release, MAPA wrote that after sequencing by the EU reference lab, the genetic group of the ASF virus near Barcelona turned out to be “group 29.” The ministry wrote: “All viruses currently circulating in member states belong to genetic groups 2-28 and not to the new genetic group 29.” It added that this group would be very similar to genetic group 1 that circulated in Georgia in 2007.
The ministry added: “Viruses, under natural conditions, undergo changes in their genome to a greater or lesser extent when they spread through infection cycles in animals. The discovery of a virus similar to the one that circulated in Georgia does not, therefore, rule out the possibility that its origin could be in a biological containment facility.”
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