118 CHA

In a municipality about 30 kilometers north of Madrid, there is the center that could be key to avoiding future health crises and their economic consequences. The Animal Health Research Center (CISA), located in Valdeolmos is the most biosafety laboratory in Spain, and also one of the few of this level throughout Europe. With more than 10,000 square meters and a team of more than 150 specialists, There are the most dangerous pathogens on the planetboth for animals and for humans.

“This is like a city within a biological containment level 3”says Noemí Sevilla, director of the center, in statements to the program Time 25 (Chain ser). And it is not an exaggeration. To enter the laboratory, the protocols are so strict that the team of journalists who came had to stay a full week in isolation, in order to avoid any risk of external contamination.

One of the greatest current concern is the African swine plague (PPA), a high propagation virus that countries such as Germany or Italy have already reached after its emergence in Europe from Caucasus, in 2007. CISA is the national reference laboratory to study this pathogen, whose consequences could be devastating for the Spanish livestock sector.

Seville herself warns that “African swine plague is a virus that causes a very high mortality” in animals. And he adds that “If you get to enter Spain, an economic catastrophe would be caused for us”. Specifically, he details that the PPA (caused by a family virus Asfarviridae) presents pictures of acute symptoms in the pigs that contract it. These derive in levels of mortality and morbidity close to 100%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

It is not surprising that the center has intensified its efforts against this threat. In its facilities we work daily with high levels of biological containment, not only because of the danger of the virus, but also because of the speed with which it can transfer borders. From its origin in the Caucasus, The disease was extended in southern Russia, and later to countries like Ukraine and Belarus, before reaching the heart of Europe.

How differ the plague and swine flu

Swine plague and swine flu are different diseases, although sometimes they are confused because both affect pigs. However, the same agent does not cause them. As we have seen, the African swine plague is caused by family DNA viruses Asfarviridae. Meanwhile, swine flu (or swine influenza), is caused by Arn virus of the influenza.

In addition, the PPA has no vaccine or effective treatment, but it is not transmitted to humans. However, swine flu can mutate and transmit to humans, as happened in the 2009 pandemic. On the other hand, there are vaccines and antiviral treatments, since it can infect people, especially if they are in contact with animals. As for the transmission, the swine plague is transmitted between pigs by direct contact, remains of contaminated food or ticks. It is very contagious between animals. In the case of swine flu, it is transmitted between pigs just like the human flu: by respiratory drops.

Humans do not get sick of African swine plague, but in pigs the symptoms are high fever, internal hemorrhages, loss of appetite and sudden death. In the case of swine flu, it can cause cough, sneezing, fever and weakness, although it is less deadly.

The Swine plague can generate a great economic impactespecially in countries with a lot of swine production (such as Spain). The outbreaks can cause massive sacrifices and millionaire losses. For its part, swine flu, in addition to the impact on animals, can cause outbreaks or pandemics in humans.

Science, an invisible wall

The work done in CISA goes beyond science: it is a silent line of defense. In a globalized world, where the transit of goods and animals is constant, Biosafety becomes a crucial tool To stop pandemics before they appear.

Each researcher, each technique and each measure adopted in this Madrid laboratory can mean the difference between an isolated outbreak and a health emergency. Therefore, from within, its director does not hesitate to launch a clear message: «It is more important than ever investigating the disease and how to contain it to avoid losses that could be millionaire ».