ASF Spain: Virus does not seem to spread; lab source not excluded
The outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in wild boar in northern Spain appears to be contained within a confinement area that was designated for it with a diameter of 6 km. All 13 confirmed cases were found within that area and the virus so far has not spread beyond that.
Òscar Ordeig is the minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of Catalonia, an autonomous community within Spain. He called the containment a priority.
Analysis of pig farms in the area
In total 15 pig farms can be found within the designated area and they are currently being inspected for presence of the virus. Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia reported that the Catalan government has ruled out sanitary culling, which is being requested by large livestock and meat companies in Spain to prevent the epidemic from reaching their farms. The industry also demanded the swift culling of all wild boars within a 20 km radius, a measure that has also failed to gain traction.
Everything, however, appears to be calm and quiet on the farm site. The 35,600 fattening pigs on those farms will be slaughtered as normal and can be released for consumption.
Where did the virus come from?
There continues to be a level of uncertainty about the origins of the virus. A team will look deeper into it – with members of the committee being announced this Monday. Soon after the outbreak, the usual explanation was put forward of infected food waste having been picked up by wild boar.
Tests by a Madrid-based animal health research centre (CISA-INIA), however, have shown that the virus is a “Georgia 2007 variant,” which is said not to be currently present in the wild, yet it is being used in experimental studies and vaccine evaluation. Hence, the Catalan government is keeping all hypotheses open regarding where the virus may come from – including origination from a lab.
Labs might be investigated
News agency Reuters quoted Ordeig mentioning IRTA-CReSA, which is a well-known and world-leading animal health research centre. The centre is located at the site of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and falls within the 6 km zone. Ordeig had added that also other labs might be investigated.
Ordeig said, “We cannot confirm anything, and what we cannot do is call into question our scientific institutions, our research centres.”
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