More than thirty years later, swine fever resurfaced in Spain. Specifically, it was discovered in Catalonia Two deceased wild boars were infected and eight others are under study. These cases have arisen hundreds of kilometers from Castile and Leon, but they are unavoidable … The alert and sector have already been triggered in the community, where it is located More than 7,100 farms With this type of livestock, he is already “anticipating what might happen.” We are also “concerned” and hope that the disease, which has so far only been discovered in wildlife in Barcelona province, will be stopped as soon as possible.
President of the Federation of Livestock Producers Associations of Castile and Leon, Miguel Angel OrtizHe stressed yesterday that despite the remoteness of the Catalan territory, the detection of swine fever “will particularly affect exports to third countries”, which will be protected from the cases that appear and will end up “affecting” all facilities of this type.
In this scenario of “uncertainty,” “the only thing ranchers can do is remain calm and take the heightened security measures that have already been put in place.” He explained that they are aware of the situation, which is why meetings have been held for some time “in case this happens.” “Now we have become a more professional sector than we were thirty years ago, which has helped us export to more than 150 countries.”He pointed to what led him to believe that the impact would be “less negative” than in the previous Spanish outbreak in 1994.
In this sense, he indicated that The disease is not transmitted to humans Neither by contact with animals nor by eating products derived from them or from other animal species, which is why residents have been asked to keep “fear” away when consuming the products. They do not fear the Christmas campaign is in danger, because it is “already very advanced”. The effects, if they arrive, will be “afterward.”
In the community there Counting more than one million copies – The third largest number in Spain and an increase of 3.3 percent compared to 2023 – according to data published by the Ministry of Agriculture. The sector has not stopped growing recently.
from Designation of Origin Guijuilo (Salamanca)one of the most important companies specializing in pork in Europe, is waiting for development. This was confirmed by its General Director, Teresa RodriguezHe called for “responsibility” and continued strict security measures. In this regard, he explained that since the last outbreak detected in Spain, there are “updated” containment plans regarding the disease that began two years ago “approaching” Spain with outbreaks like those recorded in Italy.
“It’s bad news,” he said of the return of swine fever to Spain, because of “the consequences it could have.” It is an infection that leads to a high mortality rate in infected animals, which may lead to significant economic losses among producers.
next to, There is a “greater risk” on large farmsLike the one in Salamanca Province because “the field is open.” So we will have to wait and see what measures public administrations will implement. He considered that some measures must be “coordinated” between different regions, taking into account the characteristics of each of them.
In view of this situation, The Junta de Castilla y León has already announced that it will intensify wild boar hunting To reduce their numbers in the community, especially in pig production areas, to avoid transmission of infection due to positive cases detected in these wild mammals in the Catalan community.
This procedure is part of Management plan This variant was promoted by the regional government and released even though no cases were detected in Castile and León. The regional executive, in this sense, requests the cooperation of citizens and, in the event of discovering or observing dead or sick specimens of wild pigs or wild boars, asks them to “immediately inform the authorities through the emergency line 1-1-2,” according to Ekal.
The Ministers of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning, Juan Carlos Suarez Quiñonesagriculture, livestock and rural development, Maria Gonzalez CoralYesterday, they held a coordination meeting with part of their team and the Director General of Public Health. Cristina GrandaIn which procedures and protocols for identifying the virus were determined.
First, Deputy Minister of Community Policy and Rural Development, Jorge Llorente, conveyed a “message of reassurance to citizens,” insisting that it is a non-zoonotic disease, meaning that people are not susceptible to it either through contact with animals or by eating products derived from them.
And yet it isThe Council will enhance information for veterinary services And to the sector itself in order to take strict biosafety measures on pig farms and in the transport of animals. In addition, surveillance and prevention will be strengthened, as well as early arrest of the virus if necessary.
Regarding economic issues, he said that pork is “a very important sector for society and for Spain,” and stressed that trade agreements with third countries “allow the regionalization of the disease, so Castile and Leon are free.” He pointed out, “We must now be extremely attentive and vigilant, with the sector, to everything that may happen to develop all the procedures described in the national plans or guides for this disease.”
Control of wild pigs
Agricultural organizations also pointed out this issue. Asaga demanded. “Controlling wild boar populations” Before its “expansion” throughout the territory. For this reason, he considered that the containment plan should be “different” from the one implemented thirty years ago and its “main objective should be to monitor and control” the above-mentioned wild animal populations. For all these reasons, he asked the Council and the central government for an “action plan equipped with procedures and an adequate economic budget.”
Furthermore, in a statement, they highlighted the “strict health and biosafety control carried out on farms” in the Spanish pig sector. They concluded that this aspect in Castile and León is “larger, if possible, because the farms are more modern, and the facilities, in addition to being more distant from each other, have been built according to the latest regulatory requirements.”
UCCL also urged “Coordination between all public departments” To contain possible jumps in disease among autonomous people. In addition, he called on them to intensify “monitoring of wildlife” because it is “a repository of diseases that they transmit to livestock farms.”
For his part, the president said Hunting Federation of Castile and León, Santiago Itormendi, He explained that the group is experiencing the situation “with great concern,” and pointed out that they have been warning “for a long time” about the swelling of wild pig numbers and that “this will come.” Moreover, he rejected that the UME should be responsible for eliminating wild boars in the area where the cases appeared, because hunters have “more knowledge” about the species and can “cooperate.”