The Epidemiology of African Swine Fever, Its Complexity and the Requirement for Multiple Solution Approaches

Katja Schulz,Anette Boklund

doi:10.3390/ani10101900

Abstract

Searching for the term "African swine fever" (ASF) in the title of publications in the Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus during the period of 1955-2020 resulted in an average of 2009 detected articles [...].

Highlights

In contrast to conventional assumptions that ASF is a highly contagious disease, which rushes through a wild boar or pig population without leaving any survivors, a recent review demonstrated the rather difficult definition of the speed of transmission of ASF and corresponding parameters [8]
After the successful elimination of ASF from the Iberian Peninsula in 1995, ASF almost disappeared from the European continent [2]
The disease has been endemic in Sardinia since 1978, despite several attempted elimination programs

Summary

Introduction

In contrast to conventional assumptions that ASF is a highly contagious disease, which rushes through a wild boar or pig population without leaving any survivors, a recent review demonstrated the rather difficult definition of the speed of transmission of ASF and corresponding parameters [8]. This is certainly due to the ongoing global spread of ASF and the knowledge gaps that still exist [1]. It has been hypothesized that mainly social structures and traditions, like the keeping of free-ranging pigs, and slaughters for self-consumption, pose a significant risk for the presence of ASF on the island and decrease the effectiveness of standard control measures [3].

Results

Conclusion