The crisis erupted almost three weeks ago, and initially, it was thought the virus entered Collserola via contaminated food scraps. However, the first genetic sequencing of the virus, Group 29 (similar to the one in Georgia in 2007), has strengthened the hypothesis of an accidental release from a laboratory.
Several scientists point to a possible human error, considering natural transmission from other parts of Europe “improbable”. Meanwhile, the Rural Agents continue to perimeter the ground zero area in Cerdanyola del Vallès to prevent the virus from spreading to wild boars, especially towards the Collserola natural park.
The problem is that there are industries that have specialized in very specific parts of the pig, which are practically only sold to these countries, and now their activity is halted.
The outbreak has mandated the confinement of 5,600 pigs across 55 farms near the focus, although weekly tests have been negative so far. Regarding exports, seven countries, including Japan and the Philippines (a market worth 471 million euros last year), have applied a veto on Catalan pork.
Other countries that have stopped buying pork products from Catalonia since the declaration of the fever include Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Africa. The Generalitat has only managed to secure one slaughterhouse willing to cull these animals, which could create a bottleneck.
The Generalitat, through the Catalan Credit Institute (ICF), has established an aid line of 10 million euros, expandable by 10 million more, to compensate affected sectors, although the distribution of these funds and the beneficiaries have not yet been defined.
