The Ministry of Agriculture appoints a 6-member scientific committee to advise against swine fever

He Department of agriculture This Wednesday, a scientific committee was appointed to advise on the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) detected on November 29 in Calserola (Barcelona). From the department directed by Luis Planas they have highlighted that it is “six experts of recognized prestige.” Specifically, they have added that it is “two experts in the field of animal health research, two in wildlife and two others in animal production.” The objective is “to monitor the evolution of the disease” and “to analyze possible measures to control and eradicate the virus in Spain.” Furthermore, it is constituted as “a permanent and advisory working group” whose first meeting will take place next Friday. None of those designated has a connection with the Animal Health Research Center (IRTA Cresa), which several media outlets have pointed out as a possible origin of the outbreak.

The statement clarifies that it is María del Carmen Gallardo Frontauraresearcher at the Animal Health Research Center-National Institute for Agricultural Research (CISA-INIA), in Valdeolmos (Madrid) and Marta Martínez Avilésveterinary epidemiologist member of the Epidemiology and Environmental Health Research Group of the Higher Scientific Research Council (CSIC). To which are added wildlife specialists such as Cristian Gortázar Schmidt, Professor of Animal Health at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and researcher at the Institute for Research in Hunting Resources (IREC) and Carlos Sánchez García-Abadresearch director of the Artemisan Foundation since 2017 and doctor in veterinary medicine from the University of León.

The committee also has specialized profiles in animal production processes such as Daniel Babot Gaspaagricultural engineer and professor at the University of Lleida. This expert specializes in animal production and science, specializing in sustainable pig production, genetics and animal welfare. This working group has also joined Antonio Palomo Yagüedoctor in veterinary science from the Complutense University of Madrid and who, from the Ministry, has been considered “for decades” a reference in everything related to pig production.

Researchers, professors,…

From Agriculture they have weighed the merits of those appointed. For example, about Maria del Carmen Gallardo Fronturaresearcher at CISA – INIA, have highlighted that she is specialized in the diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of animal diseases and is the coordinator of the European reference laboratory for ASF. In addition to developing work related to advanced serological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of this virus.

For his part, regarding the professor at the University of Lleida Daniel Babot, in the department of Planas they have highlighted his specialty in genetic evaluation of pig breeders in open populations. In addition to leading different research projects on pig efficiency, sustainability, microbiome and emissions.”He has taught in undergraduate and master’s programsr related to animal science and swine production”, have been highlighted by the Ministry who also put emphasis on their scientific publications. In Agriculture they have also highlighted that Cristian Gortázar Schmidt, Professor of Animal Health at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, he has authored more than 300 scientific articles and directed around 25 doctoral theses “with a career focused on infectious and zoonotic diseases that affect both wildlife and domestic animals.”