EU: Fences alone are not enough to keep out African swine fever

Fences, combined with culling and carcass removal, can help determine how quickly African swine fever virus spreads among wild boars. Their success depends on timely implementation, adaptability to changing epidemiological situations and regular maintenance. Natural barriers such as large rivers or urban areas can also influence the spread of the virus among wild boars. Although the density of wild boars in an area is a relevant factor, the experts did not find a clear and consistent effect on the spread of the virus in their analysis. Other factors such as habitat, climate and potential barriers also play a role in the spread, but more data are needed to establish how exactly this works. EFSA experts also looked at the use of immunocontraception to reduce wild boar populations. They state that more research is needed to develop a safe and effective oral vaccine for this purpose. Such an approach should also carefully consider the long-term environmental impact. The role of ticks ...