African swine fever hits EU: EFSA assesses measures to prevent spread

At the end of January Poland and Lithuania reported cases of African swine fever in wild boars. African swine fever is a viral disease that is harmless to humans but deadly to pigs, and wild boars. Currently there is no cure and no vaccine. EFSA is evaluating the effectiveness of control measures to reduce the spread of the virus among wild boars, following an urgent request from the European Commission. EFSA will provide its scientific advice by 14 March 2014.

• Mandate: Request for urgent scientific and technical assistance on the evaluation of hunting wild boar as a mitigation measure to prevent the introduction of African swine fever from area infected by the disease