Spanish authorities confirmed on Saturday that they are examining five laboratory facilities as part of efforts to determine the origin of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) that has unsettled Europe’s largest pork producer.
In the initial nine days after the detection of ASF in Catalonia, officials largely believed the virus had been introduced via contaminated cured meat discarded in the Collserola Natural Park. ALSO READ: Spanish army’s emergencies unit deployed to help combat African swine fever detected outside Barcelona.
That explanation was thrown into doubt on Friday after Spain’s Agriculture Ministry made a notable public statement, pointing to a possibility that had previously been dismissed as far-fetched: an accidental laboratory release.
The ministry indicated that the strain identified was ‘very similar’ to one commonly employed in laboratory research for infection testing.
Attention subsequently focused on IRTA-CrESA, the only laboratory in Catalonia that directly handles the ASF virus. The research centre operates just under one kilometre from the location where the first infected and deceased wild boars were discovered. ALSO READ: African swine fever detected in two wild boars near Barcelona.
Genetic sequencing of samples taken from the infected animals showed that the virus does not match the strain currently spreading across Europe. Instead, it bears a close resemblance to a variant dating back to 2007 in Georgia — specifically a strain known to be used in laboratory settings.
This hypothesis has now become the leading line of inquiry for the Spanish and Catalan regional authorities. Parallel investigations are underway, led by the Guardia Civil and the Catalan regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra.
On Saturday, following a meeting at the crisis coordination centre, Catalan president Salvador Illa (main image) announced that five IRTA-CrESA facilities located within the 20-kilometre ASF risk zone would be subjected to an audit.
‘We cannot rule anything out, and as a minimum precaution we are auditing the facilities and reviewing protocols,’ Illa said. While reiterating his ‘confidence’ in the research centre, he underlined that no potential cause of the outbreak can currently be either confirmed or excluded.
He also characterised the authorities’ response as ‘extremely swift’, stating that containment efforts ‘are operating at a very high level’.
On Friday night, rural agents reported the discovery of two additional wild boars that had died after contracting ASF.
So far, 13 wild boars have tested positive for the virus, and the total number of deceased animals submitted for examination has climbed to 52.
Officials emphasised that every infected or dead wild boar identified to date was found within the original six-kilometre high-risk zone.
Authorities believe there is a ‘high probability’ that all wild boars inside this area have already been infected and will gradually die.
As for the wider 20-kilometre perimeter, officials expect further infected animals to emerge over time and are discussing the possible establishment of an additional containment zone.
This marks Spain’s first outbreak of African swine fever since 1994.
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▶️ El president @salvadorilla, des del Centre de Comandament per contenir la PPA:
— Govern de Catalunya (@govern) December 6, 2025
“Defensarem el sector i estarem al seu costat. És un sector molt professional, que està fent les coses ben fetes. Els ajudarem a mantenir la capacitat productiva, el teixit i els llocs de treball.” pic.twitter.com/xh0VJNnhIP
📌En el marco del cumplimiento de la norma de la Unión Europea (UE)
— Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (@gobmapa) December 5, 2025
Abrimos una investigación complementaria sobre el origen del virus de la peste porcina africana en España.
Toda la información: ⤵️https://t.co/mxaDt1oZ8x pic.twitter.com/Wg6TsTwq99
Cal que tothom actuï amb el màxim de responsabilitat.
— Òscar Ordeig (@oscarordeig) December 5, 2025
El conjunt del país, el Govern i tots els efectius estem centrats a resoldre al més aviat possible aquesta crisi sanitària per aconseguir el mínim impacte possible.
No hi ha nous positius, però no podem abaixar la guàrdia. pic.twitter.com/WEX1gZ0nc3
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