Animal health experts are investigating whether any item was transported by… Highway AP-7From leftovers to the wheel, it is an asset African swine fever outbreak (ASF) which was discovered among wild boars in the Collserola area (Barcelona).
francisc accenseAn African swine fever researcher at the CReSa Animal Health Center laboratory and a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) said that finding out the origin of the outbreak from which six wild boars have died so far is “the million-dollar question,” but that It is “reasonable” to assume that the AP-7 highway It was the focus of transmission of the virus.
Wild boars were found dead this week near the UAB campus, in the municipality of Cerdanyola del Valles, all six of them. In the same arealocated near the highway.
Aksensi explained that the ASF virus has its origins in Africa and that the disease exists It is almost endemic to Eastern European countries. He pointed out that in the European Union, new outbreaks are periodically discovered in Germany, in the regions bordering Poland, and in Italy.
He added that they are now working in animal health laboratories Virus sequence Which led to the death of the six wild pigs that were found dead this week.
He specified that this work will allow us to know whether it is the virus or not Similar or identical to buds that have been reported in the countries mentioned above.
With this information, it will be possible to determine whether the focus is coming from Any item that passed through the AP-7 highway In a car passing through the area.
Contaminated pig trucks or equipment
Aksensi pointed out the validity of this research as the disease It is not transmitted through the airlike influenza or Covid, for example, but with animals coming into contact with other sick specimens or contaminated objects, such as trucks, pig-care tools or food.
In his opinion, “It’s too early” to confirm That the highway is the origin of the outbreak. “We have to be careful,” Aksenci added, explaining that it was very likely that the first animal found dead had been in contact with “an animal.” Infected materials“Not with another infected animal.”
The researcher stated, “There is The risk of finding more dead wild boars The four who were found on Friday were found as part of the active search being conducted within the six-kilometre perimeter specified by the administration around the place where the bodies of the first deceased specimens appeared.
However, Accensi has identified this There is no record Until the disease hits the pig farm.
An outbreak of swine fever, the first of its kind to be detected in Spain since 1994, led the General State to establish Six kilometers in circumference Around the place where the animals were found, access was prohibited except to residents, and a second twenty kilometers away, where outdoor activities, such as walking or bicycle tours, were prohibited.
This action affects the total 76 municipalities It includes the Collserola mountain range, which is also the area opposite the municipality of Barcelona. To prevent the implementation of prohibited activities, a body of rural agents, Mossos and local police were deployed in the area this weekend.
CReSA laboratory vaccine against plague
According to Exence, he believes that with these measures Is it possible to control the outbreak? He praised the work of pig farms in Catalonia, which “have been preparing for this scenario for years, with effective and controlled fencing measures, with biosecurity measures, and even with people who go to the farm, who have to change their clothes and shoes.” “Things are going well,” he added.
The researcher also reported this There is no vaccine For illness Nor the medicine For already infected animals.
However, the CReSA laboratory has been developed Vaccine in experimental phaseWhere they worked for fifteen years. It “sounds good, but there is still time” to license it, Accensi cautioned.