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Position statement by the Polish Academy of Sciences regarding the large-scale culling of wild boars

“From the perspective of African swine fever, however, reducing the wild boar population should be merely one of the measures aimed at preventing the disease from spreading. Only around 5% of culled wild boards have had contact with the ASF virus. The infection rate is much higher among fallen wild boars (80%)…” – write representatives of the Polish Academy of Sciences in their position statement regarding the large-scale culling of wild boars.

Position statement by the Polish Academy of Sciences regarding the large-scale culling of wild boars

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting wild boars and swine, which causes high mortality. In Poland, the ASF virus was first detected in February 2014, 800 meters away from the Belarusian border. Since then, cases of the disease have been reported in the provinces of Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Lubelskie, and Mazowieckie. Despite the adoption of different countermeasures, the disease has spread to more and more areas. African swine fever poses a serious economic, social, and environmental problem and therefore must be addressed in a comprehensive manner. Agriculture (including swine production) represents a significant share of Poland’s GDP.

On the other hand, the development of agriculture and ongoing rapid climate change are factors causing intensive growth in the number of wild boars recorded in Poland every year. If the wild boar population is not controlled, it may increase even by as much as threefold in a single year. That is why annual reductions of the wild board population are necessary.

From the perspective of African swine fever, however, reducing the wild boar population should be merely one of the measures aimed at preventing the disease from spreading. Only around 5% of culled wild boards have had contact with the ASF virus. The infection rate is much higher among fallen wild boars (80%), and because the virus may persist in the carcasses for a very long time, they represent a potential source of infection. Consequently, their swift removal from the natural environment should be a priority. All fallen wild boars should be meticulously and thoroughly collected and tested for the ASF virus. In situations in which intensive reductions of the wild boar populations are necessary, in line with the EU recommendations, such measures must be taken in compliance with high ethical standards and with respect for the public’s sensitivity to the welfare of the natural environment. Therefore, intensive wild boar culling should be conducted in the regions indicated by veterinary epidemiologists. Moreover, such wild boar culls should be prohibited at ASF epicenters, so as to prevent wild boars from dispersing out of such areas.

Effective management of wild boar populations with a view to eradicating African swine fever requires in-depth knowledge about the epidemiology of this disease and the ecology of wild boars. We cannot achieve this goal without launching special research programs. Preventing the spread of African swine fever requires comprehensive collaboration between experts in many fields of natural science as well as public communication specialists. However, such steps aimed at containing African swine fever will not bring any satisfactory results unless we solve the crucial problem posed by rigorous compliance with biosecurity rules at all farms that keep swine.

Authors:

  1. Jerzy Duszyński, biochemist, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS)
  2. Marek Konarzewski, Corresponding Member of the Academy, studies issues at the intersection of evolutionary ecology and the physiology of birds and mammals, he is a recognized science popularizer
  3. Henryk Okarma, Corresponding Member of the Academy, a longtime director of the PAS Institute of Nature Conservation, specializes in animal ecology, biology of game animals, and nature conservation
  4. Zygmunt Pejsak, Ordinary Member of the Academy, is a prominent expert on swine diseases and the use of molecular biology methods in diagnosing infectious diseases of swine
  5. Romuald Zabielski, Corresponding Member of the Academy, conducts research and gives lectures in animal physiology and veterinary prevention