Beyond Crisis Response: A Roundtable on Long-Term Strategies for Managing African Swine Fever

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Wildlife Disease Management
• Animal Health Policy

Background:

• African swine fever (ASF) persists in European wild boar, challenging current emergency response strategies.
• The continuous re-emergence and persistence of ASF present a significant social and policy problem in affected regions.
• Existing animal health emergency frameworks may be inadequate for the long-term management of ASF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted problems posed by ASF in Germany from various stakeholder perspectives.
• To gather expert insights for developing sustainable, long-term ASF management strategies.
• To identify challenges and potential future visions for ASF policy.

Main Methods:

• A World Café workshop was conducted with veterinary epidemiology experts from practice, academia, and governance.
• Expert discussions focused on the impact of ASF on different stakeholders and long-term management needs.
• Qualitative data from expert perspectives were synthesized to identify key themes and recommendations.

Main Results:

• Experts identified tensions arising from the prolonged application of emergency response concepts, leading to potential system fatigue.
• Sustainable ASF management necessitates balancing immediate outbreak responses with sustained, long-term efforts.
• Key recommendations include implementing risk-based strategies, enhancing stakeholder involvement, and adopting evidence-based policies.

Conclusions:

• Transparent communication is crucial for building public trust and acceptance in ASF management efforts.
• Flexible and adaptive approaches are needed, alongside open discussions on long-term challenges and regulatory adequacy.
• Future ASF policy requires a re-evaluation of current frameworks and the development of forward-looking strategies.