The eradication of CSF in wild boar has turned out to be particularly difficult for a variety of reasons:

• the impossibility of preventing animal to animal contact;
• the usually enormous spread of the wild boars habitat;
• the impossibility of substantially reducing the density of the population without changing its social structure, and
• the lack of success so far of experimental vaccination tried elsewhere (Germany).

The control of CSF has been based essentially on the proper management of the animals in the context of thehunt. The course of action followed by the Canton Ticino is illustrated in the chart.

Hunting activity is contraindicated during the epidemic phase of the disease- characterized by clinically evident signs and an increased mortality - since it would not significantly influencethe population structure (mortality being principally determined by the disease). In addition it would only increasethe movement of CSF virus infected animals throughout their territory. During this phase of the epidemic a highpercentage of the wild boar population is exposed to the virus and those surviving the infection acquires a longlasting immunity.

The wild boar hunt must be resumed and particulary enforced after the epidemic phase has reached its peak and afterthe virus has spread throughout the risk zone. The objective is to impede a demographic recovery, and to make contactbetween infected animals and those receptive to the virus less likely. Above all, the hunt must be conducted insuch a way as to safeguard the social structure of the animal, which is strongly matriarchal, and to preserve thosein the population with better immune protection. For this reason, the killing of adult animals (weighing more than40-50kg), and in particular adult females, is contraindicated.