Lorraine Williamson
How prepared is Spain for the return of a virus it thought it had defeated? The country is facing its first cases of African swine fever in three decades, with several infected wild boars recently found on the outskirts of Barcelona. The discovery has raised urgent questions about biosecurity, agriculture, and whether lessons from the 1990s can prevent a wider crisis.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed in late November that two wild boars found dead in Bellaterra, just north of Barcelona, tested positive for African swine fever. The announcement ended more than thirty years of being officially free of the disease status Spain fought hard to regain in 1995 after a long, bruising eradication effort.
Officials had hoped the cases were isolated. But within days, four additional infected boars were found inside Collserola Natural Park, the vast green corridor that borders Barcelona and is well known for its large, increasingly urbanised wild boar population.
Why Collserola is a concern
Across Barcelona, sightings of wild boars wandering into residential neighbourhoods have become almost routine. Their close proximity to urban spaces means any outbreak can spread quickly across populations that are difficult to monitor or control.
The fear is not for humans—the virus poses no risk to people—but for Spain’s huge pig-farming sector. If the virus reaches domestic pigs, the consequences could echo the 1990s, when Spain’s pork industry suffered severe restrictions and lost key export markets.
Understanding African swine fever
African swine fever is a highly contagious virus affecting wild boars and domestic pigs. It is almost always fatal for animals and spreads through direct contact or indirectly via contaminated vehicles, clothing, tools, or food waste.
Since 2014, the virus has moved steadily across Europe after entering the Baltic region from Russia. Today, thirteen European countries are battling active outbreaks, making control and surveillance a cross-border challenge.
Economic risks for Spain’s pork sector
Spain is one of Europe’s largest pork producers and exporters, and its industry is deeply integrated into the rural economy. Any hint of disease can lead to swift trade restrictions from importing countries, even when cases are confined to wildlife.
With wild boars roaming freely in Catalonia and neighbouring regions, detecting and containing infections becomes far more complex. The situation demands rapid coordination between wildlife authorities, farmers, transport operators, and public health officials.
What science tells us now
In the years since the virus returned to Europe, Spain has been quietly strengthening its scientific defences. Researchers have sequenced the virus, mapped its structure, and tracked its spread across the continent. Their work supports ongoing efforts to develop vaccines—still unavailable—and potential antiviral treatments.
For now, prevention remains the strongest line of defence. Authorities are urging strict hygiene in farms and transport, better waste management in rural areas, and immediate reporting of unusual animal deaths. Surveillance of wild populations, particularly in parks like Collserola, will shape how effectively Spain can respond.
What Spain faces next
The coming months will be crucial. A handful of isolated cases might be contained quickly. But the mix of dense human populations, a thriving wild boar ecosystem, and intensive pig farming makes Catalonia a vulnerable hotspot.
As Spain moves into this new phase, its response will test decades of scientific progress and whether the country can prevent history from repeating itself.
Sources: Efe Verde, Europa Press