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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Sam Jones in Madrid

African swine fever outbreak in Spain may have leaked from research lab, officials say

Officials speak to a driver on a road closed due to an outbreak of African swine fever near Barcelona.
Officials speak to a driver on a road closed due to an outbreak of African swine fever near Barcelona. Photograph: Marc Asensio/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Spanish authorities investigating the African swine fever outbreak in Catalonia are looking into the possibility that the disease may have leaked from a research facility and are focusing on five nearby laboratories as potential sources.

Thirteen cases of the fever have been confirmed in wild boars in the countryside outside Barcelona since 28 November, prompting Spain to scramble to contain the outbreak before it becomes a serious threat to its pork export industry, which is worth €8.8bn (£7.7bn) a year.

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