African swine fever has emerged in Poland on 14 February 2014. Until the end of July 2021, 12 764 outbreaks in wild boar and 400 outbreaks in domestic pigs have been notified. However, despite the reliable experience gathered during the last 7 years of ASF epizootics in Poland, it is not sufficient enough to prevent further
spillover of disease to the distant regions of the country. The most significant aspect of ASF eradication in Poland, is the uncontrolled spread of ASF in the wild boar population. It is important to mention, that the emergence of ASF in wild boar population on that scale has not been identified before, during the disease epizootic in any European or Southern America country. Therefore, the measures undertaken to combat ASF in wild boar are not fully efficient. The ethical concerns, related to massive hunting in order to stop further ASF spread, are raised by
pro-ecological societies. According to the food production authorities in Europe, including the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), one of the most important efforts to reduce further ASF spread and risk of its transmission to domestic pig sector, should be intensive reduction of wild boar population. Taking into account the range of economical loss, due to the ASF emergence in domestic pigs and stamping out of hundreds or thousands pregnant sows, seems not to be not considered by a number of people from pro-ecological societies. Meanwhile,
the effective reduction of wild boar population is extremely difficult or even impossible. The most stringent measures of wild boar depopulation may only result in a decrease of 50-60 percent of the entire wild boar number. In contrast, the recovery of wild boar population may reach 300 percent annually. There is no doubt, that wild boar for many years, and perhaps decades, will remain in Europe, including Poland, as the main reservoir of ASFV, and thus a constant epizootic threat for swine production. Other agricultural aspects related to the intensive cultivation of maize and rape, should be reconsidered due to their important influence as a convenient and protein-rich natural feed for wild boar. The success of ASF eradication in Belgium and the Czech Republic shed light on the possibilities of control of this disease in any country of Europe. However, taking into account the focal introduction of ASF to the above-mentioned countries, the strategy of ASF eradication in multi-site affected country as Poland, should be carefully modified and applied as an individual approach
