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Why are there so many measures if African swine fever (ASF) does not affect people or other animals besides pigs?
African swine fever is a virus that has no treatment or vaccine and can cause up to 100% mortality in infected wild boar and/or pigs. While it does not affect humans through contact or meat consumption, the spread of the virus would cause high mortality in wild boar and domestic pigs, resulting in enormous economic losses in the swine industry, largely due to export restrictions.
Why has access been prohibited to the area where the wild boars were found dead due to African swine fever?
Sick animals shed large quantities of the virus in their feces, blood, saliva, etc. The ASF virus is very resistant and can survive in the environment for a long time and be unintentionally transported by vehicle wheels, bicycles, footwear, pets, etc., to areas where the virus was not present, which would increase the number of wild boars that could become infected, sick, and die, and increase the risk of the virus reaching pig farms.
Why is feeding wild boars and wildlife in general prohibited?
There are several reasons. Although controls exist at airports, ports, etc., it is impossible to guarantee that there are no illegal entries of meat products from countries affected by diseases that do not exist in Spain. Many pathogens can survive in these meat products for long periods of time and cause serious illnesses if wild boar have access to them.
If animals become accustomed to being fed by humans or having access to garbage, they frequent inhabited areas more often, leading to increased conflict with the population (for example, traffic accidents). Access to constant food sources, such as garbage or food provided by humans, can cause wild boars to reproduce beyond the capacity of the local ecosystem, making them dependent on these food sources outside their natural diet, making them highly vulnerable.
Why has hunting been banned in the affected area if the goal is to reduce the wild boar population?
It is crucial that animals that are potentially infected with this virus do not leave their usual area to prevent them from spreading the virus to other areas and infecting more wild boar. Therefore, in this high-risk zone, efforts are underway to eliminate any activity that might frighten them and cause them to leave their usual territory. Furthermore, vehicles, hunters, and their dogs could also contribute to the spread of the virus through contact. Hunting and forestry work are prohibited, and public access to the area is restricted.
If it's called African swine fever, does that mean the virus came from Africa?
This virus was first detected in Kenya over 100 years ago, hence its name. Since then, it has spread to numerous countries in Asia and Europe and has even reached island nations like Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In the case of Spain, the possible origin of the virus is being investigated, but it could have come from any of the many affected countries.
Why are cat feeders asked to be placed in high areas where wild boars cannot access them?
Cat food is very attractive to wild boars. Furthermore, if it is regularly placed in specific areas that the wild boars can access, they easily become accustomed to this palatable food source.
Are swine flu and African swine fever the same disease?
No. The flu and ASF are different diseases caused by different viruses and have completely different symptoms and repercussions.
333 Staff
