Assessment of hunters’ awareness of African swine fever in Samara Oblast, the Russian federation

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Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) continues to threaten the global pig industry, primarily due to the absence of effective treatments and vaccines, complicating disease management. Control measures depend on strict quarantine protocols, including culling infected animals and reducing wild boar populations. Effective ASF management in the wild involves controlling these populations, adhering to biosafety standards while hunting, identifying and safely disposing of boar carcasses, and isolating affected areas. Hunters are crucial for early ASF detection through both passive and active surveillance, influenced by their motivation and adherence to safety protocols. A pilot survey among hunters in an ASF-affected Russian region assessed attitudes toward control measures. The results showed skepticism about the effectiveness of individual hunting bans and additional feeding sites, although measures preventing wild boar-domestic pig contact and banning wild boar meat harvesting in affected areas were favored. The survey results also revealed shortcomings in hunters’ compliance with biosafety measures, such as disinfection methods, proper disposal of carcasses after butchering and lack of interaction with state veterinary services. Evaluating hunters’ perspectives and active involvement in control efforts are crucial for effective ASF management. Hunter surveys serve as valuable tools for gathering information and should be utilized globally to enhance ASF control and hunting season biosecurity.

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