The Catalan government has confirmed 16 new cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boars this week, including a case in Castellbisbal, Vallès Occidental, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 284 across Catalonia. This new case in Castellbisbal means 19 municipalities now face restrictions on access to natural areas, according to Òscar Ordeig, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. Minister Ordeig also announced that the Catalan government has issued nine fines to individuals for breaching the restricted zone boundaries, urging public cooperation. Of the 16 new positive cases, five were found in Molins de Rei, three in El Papiol, four in Sant Cugat del Vallès, and three in Barcelona city. The case in Castellbisbal remains within the containment area defined by the AP-7 and A-2 motorways, a factor the Catalan government believes helps limit further spread. The outbreak now affects a wide area, including Badia, Barberà, Sant Cugat, Sant Quirze and Cerdanyola del Vallès, El Papiol, Molins de Rei, Sant Feliu and Esplugues de Llobregat, Montcada i Reixac, Polinyà, Ripollet, Rubí, Sabadell, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Terrassa, Sant Just Desvern, Castellbisbal, the Barcelona enclave, and access points to the Collserola Natural Park. ## Containing the Outbreak Minister Ordeig called for calm regarding the new municipality and confirmed that the resolution for natural area access restrictions had been published and the mayor of Castellbisbal informed. To prevent the infection from moving north, the Catalan government has intensified the sanitary culling of wild boars in the 'zero zone', aiming to complete this "as soon as possible", Minister Ordeig stated. Physical barriers have also been installed around the A-2/B-40 axis to hinder the movement of animals. Minister Ordeig dismissed the possibility of a partial reopening of Collserola Natural Park in the short term, reiterating, "We cannot relax. The crisis is not over." He also commented on the initial fines, stating, "Authorities will sanction all those who do not comply with the restrictions. We ask for cooperation." The imposition of these first sanctions underscores the seriousness with which the authorities are treating non-compliance with the established containment measures. ## Economic Outlook and Future Measures Despite the ongoing challenges, Minister Ordeig conveyed an optimistic message to the pork sector, highlighting recent agreements such as the expansion of cured product and stomach exports to China. He also noted that pork prices were nearing pre-crisis levels, just three cents per kilo below the initial price, suggesting a degree of market recovery. Looking ahead, the Department of Agriculture has established an emergency contract worth €7 million with the public company Tragsa. This contract will allow for the addition of 170 new personnel to the fight against African Swine Fever, with 40 expected to start work next week. 57 Pig Brig traps and 51 all-terrain vehicles will be acquired. This new team will undertake tasks including intensive searching for wild boar carcasses across an area of approximately 1,050 km², primarily using specialised teams and canine units, as well as mass animal capture, demonstrating a significant increase in resources dedicated to controlling the disease.