Photo: Jan Vullings
The number of wild boar infected with African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Barcelona area of Spain continues to rise – up 18 to 47 now. Meanwhile 2 infected wild boar were found outside a fenced area in the outbreak zone in Germany’s North Rhine Westphalia state.
The latest discoveries in Spain were all found in the high-risk zone, so geographically the latest cases in Spain do not give cause for alarm. All 47 animals have been found in an area that measures 6 km north to south and 4 km east to west, as the crow flies about 15 km north west of Barcelona.
Catalan authorities call for calm
The Catalan government (Generalitat) emphasised that the new detections reflect cases that accumulated at veterinary services during the holidays and called for calm, assuring the public that this is not a sudden increase in infected wild boar.
The Barcelona-based newspaper El Periódico reported that so far in total 621 wild boar have been tested – of which 47 proved positive (8%). Those animals were captured in traps, or sampled through passive surveillance (remains found or shot animals).
In recent weeks, in search for wild boar carcasses, the Spanish authorities have conducted intensive surveys of the infected area, using helicopters as well as drones to access areas that would otherwise be difficult to enter. In addition to searching for carcasses, the capture of animals continues in an effort to reduce the wild boar population. The 57 farms located within the affected area are being monitored.
ASF in Germany’s North Rhine Westphalia state
Until recently, a picture of containment could also be seen in Germany’s state North Rhine Westphalia. That state has also been trying to get an ASF outbreak under control in its wild boar population, since mid-June 2025. In recent weeks, however, infected wild boar carcasses were discovered outside of the infected zone, which has been fenced off. Most recently, that happened on December 30, near the village Flape in the Olpe district, wrote local newspaper Westfalenpost. As a result, the infected zone may have to be expanded. The newspaper quoted the district, saying that “an expansion of the core zone area as well as new fencing measures are currently examined.”
According to the newspaper, an earlier find outside the fenced zone already happened on November 28. That animal was found between the villages of Albaum and Würdinghausen, according to Westfalenpost, “in the immediate vicinity of the fence.” At the time, the fenced area was also adjusted.
Join 18,000+ subscribers Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated about all the need-to-know content in the pigsector, three times a week.
“*” indicates required fields
