Spain Probes Possible Lab Link as ASF Outbreak Shakes Europe’s Top Pork Exporter
Spanish authorities are investigating whether a recent African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected in wild boar near Barcelona may be linked to a research laboratory, after genetic analysis revealed an unusual virus profile. Since 28 November, 13 ASF cases have been confirmed in wild boar across Catalonia, marking Spain’s most serious ASF incident in decades.
Preliminary testing indicates the virus strain does not match ASF variants currently circulating elsewhere in the EU. Instead, it shows similarities to the strain first identified in Georgia in 2007, raising questions about how the virus entered the region. Officials stress that investigations are ongoing and no conclusions have yet been reached.
Source: AgTech Navigator
Date: 9 December 2025
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