The African swine fever (ASF) epidemic has evolved very rapidly this summer with numerous cases detected in Italy, Germany and Poland.
This was stated by the deputy director responsible for the issue at the European Commission, Bernard Van Goethem, on 4 September before the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. And to combat its spread, the European Union still does not have a vaccine.
In recent years, research funded by European funds has not made any progress at this stage. “This is a very particular, very complex virus. It is an anomaly in the world of viruses,” says the Directorate General of Health. By the end of 2024, two envelopes of 6 million euros each will be released again.
How to target wild boars?
The European Food Safety Authority is considering working on a vaccine based on an attenuated version of the virus. Vietnam has been announcing for several months that it is working on a vaccine, but informal information available to Brussels reveals that it would not be safe in terms of side effects.
And even if a vaccine were developed, a solution would still have to be found to inoculate it into wild boars – as was done to combat rabies in foxes – which are the main vectors of the disease. As a reminder, a wild boar carcass in the wild can remain contaminating for at least six months.
