Spain has confirmed its first outbreak of African swine fever in more than 30 years, raising serious concerns for Europe’s pig sector and raising the UK’s vigilance over the virus.
Two wild boars were found dead near the Autonomous University of Barcelona on November 26, and the Central Veterinary Institute in Madrid tested positive for ASF.
These animals were found approximately one kilometer apart, suggesting the virus may have already been circulating within the local wild boar population before it was detected.
Spanish authorities notified the EU and the World Organization for Animal Health and implemented immediate containment measures around the scene.
Farmers are being asked to “implement all necessary biosecurity and monitoring measures on pig farms and boar farms and during transport of animals”.
Officials also reiterated the legal obligation to report any suspected cases nationwide while investigations into the source of the infestation continue.
The timing is particularly damaging for Spain, the EU’s biggest pork producer and exporter, which has endured months of falling prices.
Spain has a regionalization agreement with China, so export restrictions could be limited to the affected regions, but the development is expected to disrupt trade flows, potentially spilling surplus pigs into the wider EU market and causing prices to fall further.
ASF is currently present in wild boars and, in some cases, domestic pigs in 13 EU countries. The virus is spread primarily through direct contact with infected animals and contaminated materials such as vehicles, feed, clothing, and meat products.
It is highly resistant in the environment and in pork products, making cross-border transmission difficult to control. Since joining the EU, countries such as Belgium, Sweden and the Czech Republic have succeeded in eradicating ASF only through strict surveillance and active containment of infected wild boar populations.
Although there is no official outbreak of the disease in the UK, Defra claims the most likely route of introduction is through infected pork carried by travelers or imported illegally.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said the level of risk was constant and real, citing the ability of the virus to survive for months in unprocessed meat.
Border forces and local authorities have seized large amounts of illegally imported meat in recent years, highlighting the continued weakness in passenger compliance and enforcement.
Pig producers in the UK have long warned that ASF entering the country would have a devastating impact on domestic production, trade and animal health infrastructure.
Lizzie Wilson, chief executive of the National Pig Association (NPA), called on Defra to ensure that potentially infectious product does not enter the UK from Spain and to refocus on high-risk points of entry. He said the government must finally provide the necessary resources to monitor and crack down on illegal imports in places such as Dover.
The UK pig herd, valued at around £1.6 billion, has faced sustained fluctuations in recent years due to labor shortages, rising input costs and disease pressure.
Industry leaders argue that the arrival of ASF will result in mass culling, immediate export losses and long-term damage to market confidence.
The UK has strengthened some of its biosecurity messages and expanded the list of illegal items that can be seized at the border, but industry bodies continue to call for tougher checks, improved detection capabilities and stronger enforcement of private imports of meat from high-risk areas.
Spain is currently facing its first ASF invasion since 1994, and UK industry is calling for swift and visible measures to prevent the virus from crossing the border.
