African Swine Fever in wild boar: Assessing interventions in South Korea. 2021

Yeong-Seok Jo, and Christian Gortázar
Department of Biology Education, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, South Korea.

African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in South Korean pig farms in September 2019. Currently, ASF occurs mostly in wild boar (Sus scrofa). We describe the ASF dynamics in wild boar in South Korea from October 2019 to October 2020 and use case studies to evidence the advantages and limitations of the control measures applied. During 2019, ASF remained confined in fenced areas of three counties. Since January 2020 however, the ASF management policy changed from fencing with limited disturbance to culling (with more disturbance), and ASF spread east and south. Until 31 October 2020, a total of 775 wild boar ASF cases have been confirmed, affecting 9 counties. Interventions for ASF control in wild boar included silent (trapping) and non-silent (shooting) population control, local and large-scale fencing, and carcass destruction. Pre-ASF wild boar densities were closed to 10 per km2 . Biosafety risks arose from the movements of people and vehicles, swill feeding of wild boar, destroying pig herds, handling wild boar during trapping and hunting, and searching for and disposing of carcasses. Despite training efforts, biosafety regulations were sometimes ignored. We observed differences between counties regarding disease control. While interventions apparently succeeded in controlling ASF in one site where geographical features and fast decision making facilitated an early and efficient fencing, and culling was performed silently, biosafety problems and habitat- and management-related delays hindered ASF control in other situations. Given that carcass, destruction faces specific limitations in South Korea, fencing and trapping (under appropriate biosafety conditions) might represent the most effective intervention option.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D000357 African Swine Fever A sometimes fatal ASFIVIRUS infection of pigs, characterized by fever, cough, diarrhea, hemorrhagic lymph nodes, and edema of the gallbladder. It is transmitted between domestic swine by direct contact, ingestion of infected meat, or fomites, or mechanically by biting flies or soft ticks (genus Ornithodoros). Swine Fever, African,African Swine Fever Virus Infection,Asfivirus Infection,Wart-Hog Disease,Asfivirus Infections,Infection, Asfivirus,Infections, Asfivirus,Wart Hog Disease,Wart-Hog Diseases
D000358 African Swine Fever Virus The lone species of the genus Asfivirus. It infects domestic and wild pigs, warthogs, and bushpigs. Disease is endemic in domestic swine in many African countries and Sardinia. Soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros are also infected and act as vectors. Wart-Hog Disease Virus,Virus, Wart-Hog Disease,Wart Hog Disease Virus
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013552 Swine Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA). Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D013553 Swine Diseases Diseases of domestic swine and of the wild boar of the genus Sus. Disease, Swine,Diseases, Swine,Swine Disease
D017753 Ecosystem A functional system which includes the organisms of a natural community together with their environment. (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Ecosystems,Biome,Ecologic System,Ecologic Systems,Ecological System,Habitat,Niche, Ecological,System, Ecological,Systems, Ecological,Biomes,Ecological Niche,Ecological Systems,Habitats,System, Ecologic,Systems, Ecologic
D056910 Republic of Korea The capital is Seoul. The country, established September 9, 1948, is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its northern border is shared with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Korea, Republic of,South Korea
D034421 Sus scrofa A species of SWINE, in the family Suidae, comprising a number of subspecies including the domestic pig Sus scrofa domestica. Pig, Domestic,Sus scrofa domesticus,Wild Boar,Sus scrofa domestica,Boar, Wild,Boars, Wild,Domestic Pig,Domestic Pigs,Pigs, Domestic,Wild Boars

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