AFRICAN SWINE FEVER IN POLAND AND EASTERN EUROPE. CURRENT EPIZOOTIC STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR ITS ERADICATION.

Abstract

Animal production is of major economic importance in a number of European countries, including Poland. In terms of swine production, there are over 1.3 billions of swine worldwide. The EU is the second largest pork producer with over 186 millions of swine. In Poland, according to the data from EUROSTAT, in June 2020, the number of pigs exceeded 11.43 million, showing an increase of 6.0% compared to the same period in the previous year. The observed international fluctuation in the produced pigs’ number is mainly related to the lack of profit in production due to the occurrence of infectious diseases, with African Swine Fever (ASF) amongst them. ASF in Poland has been a major threat for pig production for the eight years. The main problems in ASF eradication in Poland are due to the high density of wild boar. Other factors, responsible for long-distance ASF spread are related to human-mediated activity and lack of awareness of pig producers. The observations from the eight years of ASF epizootic in Poland indicate that the disease could not have been effectively controlled in wild boar population and could only be restricted in domestic pig population following stringent biosecurity measures. The only solution for future sustainable pig production in Poland seems to be strict collaboration between pig producers, veterinary inspection, and hunters.