New Developments in African Swine Fever Outbreak in Catalonia

In a recent informational meeting, Toni Gabaldón, an ICREA research professor associated with the Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (IRB) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), provided critical insights into the ongoing African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected in Catalonia. The meeting, attended by Cristina Massot, the General Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food of the Generalitat, came in the wake of two additional cases being reported, raising the total to 29, all situated within a 6-kilometer radius near Collserola, Barcelona. Gabaldón emphasized that the genetic sequencing of the outbreak virus in Catalonia has not matched any of the samples being studied by IrtaCReSA. 'In no case have we found a match between the outbreak virus and the samples analyzed in the laboratory,' he stated after the analysis of 17 samples. Cristina Massot clarified that the IRB had analyzed a total of 19 samples from IrtaCReSA, with 17 already sequenced. Additionally, they had reviewed 800 sequences of previous ASF outbreaks worldwide, including the most recent occurrences in Europe. Remarkably, they have confirmed that none of these samples correspond to the outbreak identified in Catalonia, which appears to be related to a new viral subtype. Massot addressed concerns regarding two pending samples that had been frozen for over five years, indicating that the likelihood of an outbreak emerging from those is considerably low. However, she reiterated that the sequencing results from the IRB are not definitive and that confirmation will be sought from studies conducted by the Ministry and the European reference laboratory. 'We must wait for the Ministry's results,' she stressed. As of December 22, councilor Óscar Ordeig revealed that an audit conducted by a committee set up by the Generalitat has validated the protocols and operations at the IrtaCReSA facility, bringing additional credibility to the IRB's analysis while awaiting findings from the Ministry and the European Commission. Gabaldón voiced optimism regarding the results, noting, 'It would be a great surprise if they were different,' while emphasizing the need for the Ministry's or the laboratory's conclusive results, particularly those considered a reference by Brussels. In response to the outbreak, the Civil Guard and the Mossos have registered a laboratory associated with the IrtaCReSA center in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, where the first infected wild boars were discovered. As the situation develops, experts urge caution and diligence in managing this emerging health crisis. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2