State rural agents have brought to 50 the number of wild boars found within the swine fever zero zone in the Collserola Natural Park (Barcelona). Animal carcasses do not automatically mean they are infected with the disease, as nine wild boars have been discovered so far.
In the 20 km area under surveillance in Collserola, hunting has been banned to prevent the movement of wild boars that could spread the virus in the area. In total, more than 240 professionals were mobilized between the State Rural Agents’ Bodies, the Civil Guard and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) of the Army.
The area around Zero remains stable, and no wild boar carcasses have been found outside it so far. The origin of the disease is also unknown (and experts warn it may never be known). ElDiario.es newspaper revealed on Wednesday that the Ministry of Agriculture has already warned of the presence of wild boars in the vicinity of the AP-7 highway as a risk of the disease appearing.
Firefighters joined the operation on Wednesday and are responsible for clearing rural roads in Cerdanyola and Sant Cugat del Valles (Barcelona). Efforts are focused on preventing swine fever from expanding across the green corridor leading to Sant Llorencia del Monte Park, which is why chemical and physical barriers have been used.