Outbreak of African swine fever in wild boar – how do you keep an eye on it?


A systematic evaluation and knowledgeable reviews disclose keys to keep an eye on an epidemic of ASF in wild boars in Spain


calendar icon 24 July 2023

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3 minute learn

The African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable illness that reasons top mortality charges in pigs and wild boar. Regardless of being a deadly disease local to Africa, in 2007 the primary sure suid used to be detected in Europe (Georgia). Since then, the virus has affected greater than 20 international locations in Europe, together with Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy and Greece, with greater than 50,000 sure wild boars and pigs detected at the continent (on the subject of 90% of the outbreaks took place in wild boars). 

In Spain, no sure animal used to be detected on this epidemic. On the other hand, it’s handy to be alert because of the significance of the pig sector in our nation, in addition to the overabundance of wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Wild ungulates, particularly wild boar (Sus scrofa), have given upward thrust to scenarios of overabundance in Europe. Symbol courtesy of IREC

On this context, researchers from the Analysis Workforce in Well being and Biotechnology (SaBio) of the Institute for Analysis in Searching Sources (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), in collaboration with 10 famend global professionals within the box, have performed a bibliographical evaluation and equipped reflections to synthesize present wisdom at the control and keep an eye on of African swine fever virus in wild boar.

From the 468 paperwork reviewed and from a questionnaire made to the professionals, the next conclusions have been bought, it may be extracted that the ASF in wild boar has best been stopped in very localized foci (this is, an early detection of the outbreak that has effects on a restricted house of ​​land). To the contrary, it hasn’t ever been imaginable to prevent an ASF outbreak affecting massive epidemic fronts.

One of the best keep an eye on gear towards ASF are: 

  1. the quest and destruction of corpses of inflamed animals, 
  2. the inhabitants keep an eye on in spaces on the subject of inflamed spaces, and 
  3. the fringe fencing when the virus impacts small spaces.

Professionals indicate that combining those and different interventions is particularly helpful.

In scenarios like Spain, the place the virus has no longer but arrived, higher wisdom of untamed boar populations (abundance, well being standing, and so on.), efforts to optimize early detection and logistical preparation in gear and protocols (e.g. seek and destruction of corpses) are the most efficient methods to be ready for the semblance of an epidemic of African swine fever in wild boar.

Previous to an emergency state of affairs because of the detection of the virus, logistical preparation and higher wisdom of untamed boar populations is a concern. Symbol courtesy of IREC.

The medical evaluation concludes that long run experimental paintings, centered at the control of untamed boar populations, in addition to the improvement of a vaccine and how to ship it to wild populations are essential and would entire the to be had gear.

The medical newsletter of this analysis is to be had at:

Headline symbol courtesy of IREC



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