The entry into the animal health research center, located on the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) campus, was carried out by order of Instruction Court 2 of Cerdanyola del Vallès. The objective of the investigation, which remains under judicial secrecy, is to determine whether the virus that caused the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak accidentally originated from these facilities.

The search began around 9 AM this Thursday. The officers, including specialists in environment and consumer affairs from the Mossos d'Esquadra, are collecting information regarding the experiments being conducted on the disease, adhering to strict safety protocols required for intervention in such a center.

So far, 26 wild boars infected with the virus have been found dead within a six-kilometer radius of the laboratory. Suspicion grew when analyses linked the wild boar virus to the reference strain detected in Georgia in 2007, which is the same strain used in IRTA-CReSA's experimental studies for vaccine development.

Separately, a committee of scientists appointed by the administrations is also investigating the outbreak's origin. They are awaiting the genetic sequencing of the laboratory's virus. If it matches the wild boars' virus, it could provide definitive proof of the escape. Although the disease does not affect humans, it represents a severe blow to the Catalan and Spanish pork industry due to international trade restrictions.