African swine fever restrictions eased in 73 towns, but Collserola sees new measures

The Catalan government announced on Friday that it will lift restrictions aimed at containing the African swine fever outbreak in 73 towns.

The towns benefiting from the easing of measures are those located between 6 and 20 kilometres from the site where the outbreak was detected.

In these areas, access to natural spaces is now permitted again for both people and domestic animals, provided that animals remain on a lead at all times.

Activities such as sports, educational programmes, group visits, as well as forestry and agricultural work, are also allowed to resume.

Meanwhile, in the high-risk zone, within 6 kilometres of the outbreak and encompassing 12 towns, restrictions will remain in place.

This area is where all infected wild boar carcasses have been found to date, with a total of 103 reported so far.

In the Collserola Natural Park area, which includes six towns in the low-risk zone and three in the high-risk zone (Sant Cugat, Montcada i Reixac, and Cerdanyola), additional restrictions will be implemented.

In the low-risk towns, individuals and small groups may access natural areas, but these will be closed at night, from 10 pm to 6 am.

In the high-risk towns, access will be prohibited at all times, both day and night.

The new night-time restrictions in the low-risk areas of Collserola are intended to allow forest rangers to carry out operations freely after dark.