The District Veterinary Officer in Lwówek Śląski reported the discovery of the wild boars and an ASF outbreak. Positive test results from the reference laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute in Puławy show that the wild boars were infected with ASF.
As we read on the website of the General Veterinary Inspectorate:
About ASF
African swine fever (ASF) is a rapidly spreading infectious viral disease affecting domestic pigs, wild boar–pig hybrids and wild boars. When ASF occurs in a herd, production declines significantly: the infection progresses slowly and affects a considerable proportion of the animals in the herd, while mortality can reach as high as 100%.
According to the OIE, the disease’s incubation period is considered to be 15 days (the incubation period in the natural environment is 4–19 days; in cases of acute disease, 3–4 days).
The virus is exceptionally resistant to low temperatures and retains its infectious properties in blood, feces and tissues—especially raw or undercooked pork or wild-boar products—for as long as 3–6 months.
Risk to humans
Humans are not susceptible to infection with the ASF virus, so the disease does not pose a threat to their health or lives.
Routes of infection
The most common way animals become infected is through direct or indirect contact with infected animals. The virus spreads relatively easily through people and vehicles visiting a farm, contaminated equipment and tools, animals with unrestricted access to the farm (rodents, cats and dogs), as well as contaminated feed and water and feeding animals kitchen waste containing unprocessed meat from infected pigs or wild boars.