African swine fever has been identified beyond a high-risk designated containment area in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia, marking the first such breach since the disease resurfaced in November, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The virus poses no risk to humans but is almost always lethal to pigs and wild boar.
While no infections have been found in commercial pig farms, the outbreak has already caused disruption to Spanish pork exports. Spain is the world’s third-largest producer of pork and related products.
Catalonia’s agriculture department reported 13 new cases in wild boar, two of which were detected outside the existing high-risk six-kilometre containment zone near Barcelona, and in an area that had been considered ‘low-risk’.
In response, officials have widened the high-risk area to include the affected municipalities of Molins de Rei and Papiol, and imposed restrictions on access to nearby woodland in an effort to curb further transmission.
This is Spain’s first outbreak of African swine fever since 1994, with total cases in wild boar now exceeding 100.
‘More than ever, it is essential not to lower our guard against a disease that remains present,’ said Oscar Ordeig, regional agriculture minister.
The source of the outbreak has yet to be identified, and a judicial investigation is under way. ALSO READ: Early analysis suggests African swine fever outbreak in Catalonia does not match research lab samples.
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🐗 Detecten dos nous casos de pesta porcina africana fora del radi inicial i Molins de Rei i el Papiol s’incorporen a la zona d’alt risc.
📈 El total de positius s’enfila als 155 | @RTVECatalunya
➕ Info: https://t.co/jCDmIjtvaJ pic.twitter.com/K6PKHZBpcb
— RTVE Notícies (@rtvenoticies) February 13, 2026
🔴 Ampliem la zona d’alt risc de pesta porcina africana amb limitació de moviments de persones a Molins de Rei i el Papiol.
👉🏻 L’ampliació respon a la confirmació de dos nous positius situats dins la zona de baix risc.
Més informació a https://t.co/fAGPtCfsdi pic.twitter.com/jypiXolNUI
— Agricultura (@agriculturacat) February 13, 2026
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