Reacción a "Initial genetic analyses of African swine fever viruses in Catalonia suggest that a laboratory leak is ‘highly unlikely’"

What is clear is that the virus circulating is different from those generally circulating in other European Union countries, and it remains to be seen whether, as expected, this different virus also has different epidemiological characteristics. For example, if it has many modifications, many mutations, this may affect its transmissibility and, therefore, the length of time that infected wild boars can remain infectious. This may affect the dynamics of the outbreak in the sense that all European protocols for action against African swine fever are designed for the highly pathogenic variants that generally circulate in other affected countries in the Union.

In other words, if we have a different virus here, we may have to adapt to this new circumstance in some way. That is the most important thing, regardless of the origin of the virus.

Given the results of this sequencing, which still seems to be missing some other viruses to be analysed, and it is possible that more information will emerge over time, there is currently nothing conclusive about the origin. The possibility of an origin via the introduction of a contaminated product, food, or meat product remains open, and I would not completely rule out the possible origin of the laboratory either.

We will have to wait and see what conclusions other analyses that are being carried out reach. I insist, the origin is not as important as the fact that we are facing the problem and adapting to this somewhat novel situation of a different virus.