22nd Standing Group of Experts on African Swine Fever in Europe (SGE-ASF22)

The twenty second meeting of the Standing Group of Experts on African Swine Fever (SGE ASF22) was organised in the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (German animal virology reference laboratory) and Mecklenburg, Germany, by the SGE ASF Secretariat on the 8/9^th of April 2024. 21 SGE Member Countries from the European Region participated, for a total of over 90 participants in FLI and 75 in the field visits.

After a brief overview of regional activities from Asia Pacific and Europe, the new member countries briefly presented their national epidemiological situation regarding ASF.

Participants, including representatives of local German veterinary services, gave presentations of the opportunities and challenges in the use of fencing in control of ASF in wild boar, that were illustrated by field visits on the second day.

The SGE ASF22 were shown a set of recommendations. Amongst these, it was highlighted that:

 

1. Albania and Montenegro become full members of the SGE ASF, and as such participate in future SGE ASF meetings to share their experience and receive relevant guidance.  
2. Field missions by GF-TADs experts should continue in recently affected countries to rapidly provide support to the veterinary authorities. Interested countries should contact the SGE ASF secretariat.
3. The correct management of wild boar populations, through strategic fencing combined with targeted depopulation, and the reduction of the environmental viral load due to infected wild boar carcasses are key to prevent, control and eradicate ASF. Therefore, wild boar carcass search and safe disposal must be considered a cornerstone for ASF control. Best practices in relation to fencing and wild boar population management are described in Annex 1 of these recommendations. They should be duly followed.
4. Best practices for wild boar hunting management, biosecurity and safe carcass disposal are described in the ‘Handbook on African swine fever in wild boar and biosecurity during hunting”
5. Awareness campaigns should be carried out using all possible information modalities (e.g. face-to-face meetings, mass media, posters, leaflets, radio and TV shows). Different actors should be informed, including hunters and hunting associations, the general public through municipalities, non-governmental organizations, veterinary practitioners, forest workers & management bodies and seasonal workers to increase the acceptance and effectiveness of ASF control measures.

 

The SGE ASF agreed that the eradication of ASF from the European region remains the primary goal. In addition, participants agreed that while not all countries may possess the financial means for state-of-the-art fencing and technological solutions, there are universal principles applicable at the local level. These include understanding wild boar distribution, engaging key stakeholders in control measures, and launching public awareness campaigns.

The participation of a representative from the Asia-Pacific region offered valuable parallels in the global fight against ASF, shedding light on shared challenges and effective control strategies needing adaptation to local contexts.

The importance of cross-border cooperation emerged as a recurrent theme, particularly given the prevalence of shared land borders among member states. The movement of wild boars across these borders poses a significant risk for virus transmission, underscoring the necessity for collaborative efforts.

The collaborative spirit and exchange of knowledge fostered by the SGE on ASF remain useful in advancing efforts towards ASF eradication, both regionally and globally.

Final Report

 

Next meeting

• The twenty second meetings of the Standing Group of Experts on African Swine Fever (SGE ASF22) in Europe under GF-TADs is planned to be held in September 2024 in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

 

Presentations are available in the agenda below

Day 0 – 7th of April 2024 – from 19:30 – Berlin 

 

From 19:30	Welcome buffet in hotel close to Berlin Airport (Intercity hotel TBC)
2 hours	Buffet and social gathering	Hosts: Germany and GF-TADs

 

Day 1 – 8th of April 2024 – 07.00 – 17.00 – Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut

 

07:00-10.30	Travel from Intercity hotel to Friedrich Loeffler Institut in Greifswald insel Riems
10:30 – 10:45	Refreshment – coffee
15 minutes	Welcoming remarks	Prof Kühn, Head of FLI Dr Dietrich Rassow Dr Budimir Plavsic (SGE Secretariat) Dr Bernard Van Goethem
30	Presentation of the activities in Asia Activities and situation	Dr Okita Vice President of the regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific
10	WOAH presentation on ASF activities including work on the eDepository	WOAH – Dr Chng and Perchet
10	FAO presentation on ASF activities	FAO REU Daniel Beltran Alcrudo
10	EU presentation on ASF activities	DG Santé
5	Discussion
10	Presentation Albania epidemiological situation	Esta Papajani
10	Presentation Montenegro epidemiological situation	Dr Mevlida Hrapovic
10	Presentation of the Montenegro SGE mission	Dr Olsveskis
10	Presentation Greece epidemiological situation	Dr Maria Gianniou
10	Presentation Sweden epidemiological situation	Dr Caroline Bossfall
5	discussion
13:00 – 14.30	Lunch break – optional tour of the FLI Island
20	Overview of ASF in Germany, including public relations work (A) Carola Sauter-Louis (B)	Dr Christina Haarmann, Federal Ministry + Prof Carola Sauter-Louis, FLI
30	ASF in Brandenburg (BB): Prevention and ASF control based on individual examples (fences, search for dead game)	Diana Holland
30	ASF in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV): Prevention and ASF control based on individual examples (fences, search for dead game)	Dr Stephanie Woida
30	Report /Presentation local veterinary and regional forestry authority Debate on individual issues arising from the discussion	Nicole Lade, local district Vorpommern-Greifswald
10	Discussion
16:30 – 16:40 hrs	Coffee break
15	Presentation of the Italian experience on ASF control	TBC
10	Presentation of current French prevention plan and the past cross boundary cooperation with Belgium including fencing.	Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran
15	Evolution of fencing solutions used in Europe, and the possible future role of vaccination against ASF	Dr Vittorio Guberti
10	Discussion and questions
17.10	Wrap up of the first day presentations
18.00 hrs	Departure for Anklam and travel
19:30 hrs	Dinner in Anklam
21.30	Accommodation – hotel in Anklam

 

Day 2 April 9th, 2024 excursion to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Note: Departure from Hotel in Anklam

Schedule	Stops	Contents
08:20-9:20	Travel from hotel (Anklam) to fences	Bus travel
9:20	Fence close to Rieth 53.689683/14.271816	ASF protection corridor POL-DEU border
10:35	Green close to Sandbad Ahlbeck (PLZ 17375) (three groups in parallel) 500m footpath – appropriate footwear and clothing for countryside	Demonstration search for carcasses (dogs)
		Trapping
		Demonstration of a drone used in carcass searching
11:45	Gasthof zum Seegrund Dorfstr. 32, 17375 Ahlbeck – Lunch
13:30 – 16.30	return journey to Berlin, with conclusions and recommendations to be presented on the way
16.30	Return to Berlin airport
18.00 –	Optional walk in Berlin

 

The list of SGE ASF members and prospective members is as follows:  Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo*, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro; North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine

* This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence