Investigation Launched into Possible Laboratory Origin of African Swine Fever Outbreak in Catalonia

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) in Spain announced on Friday that it will initiate a fresh investigation into the origins of the recent African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected in Catalonia. This decision follows a report from the European Union (EU) reference laboratory, which has raised concerns regarding the genetic classification of the virus responsible for this outbreak. According to the report, all currently circulating ASF viruses in the EU are classified under genetic group 228. However, the virus identified in Barcelona belongs to genetic group 29, which is alarmingly similar to genetic group 1 viruses that were reported in Georgia back in 2007. This specific strain, known as the Georgia 2007 virus, is commonly utilized in laboratory settings for experimental infections and the evaluation of vaccine effectiveness, leading experts to suggest the possibility that this outbreak may have an artificial origin rather than a natural one. In light of this concerning development, agricultural organizations and the cooperative sector are urging immediate measures to contain the outbreak. They have called for the slaughter of pigs within a 20-kilometer radius of the detected outbreak sites as a precautionary measure. Additionally, there are appeals for financial assistance for farmers who have been adversely affected by this situation. Despite these calls, some slaughterhouses have refused to participate in the culling process, even when their facilities have tested negative for the ASF virus. In response to the outbreak, the EU has identified 91 municipalities across eight counties in Catalonia as infected areas for African swine fever. Consequently, Spain is set to establish a designated infected zone that will remain in place until at least February 2026, in an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease and protect the livestock industry. As the investigation unfolds, more scrutiny will be placed on both the origins of the virus and the protocols in place to maintain biosecurity standards in laboratories. Stakeholders across the agricultural sector are on high alert as they navigate the implications of this outbreak on public health, food security, and farmers' livelihoods. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2