Alarm in Olpe: Dead wild boar positive for African swine fever!

Alarm in Olpe: Dead wild boar positive for African swine fever!

In Olpe there is currently a troubling suspicion: a hunter discovered a dead wild boar that was positively tested for the African swine plague (ASP). This information was confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection. However, the final confirmation by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (fli).

Positive wild boars are not uncommon, but in this case it is a single case. In order to prevent a possible spread of the plague in the region, preventive measures were immediately initiated. A coordination group to combat the ASP has been convened, the main goal of which is to restrict the disease to a limited area and to prevent them from spreading to house pig stocks if the test results should confirm the previous findings.

The African swine fever at a glance

The ASP is a highly contagious viral infection that affects both wild and domestic pigs and is almost always fatal for them. However, the viruses are harmless to humans and other pets. This animal disease, which was originally limited to Africa, has gained a foothold since its first appearance in Georgia in 2007 in many countries. Again and again cases are known in European countries, and since 2014 the plague in Europe has been spreading in a worrying extent in southeastern countries.

• First outbreaks in the EU: 2014 in Lithuania, Poland and other countries
• infection rates under wild boars in Germany: cases in Brandenburg, Saxony, and other federal states
• renewed outbreaks 2021 to 2023 in several federal states, also in holding holdings

The dangers from wild and held pigs should not be underestimated. In addition to the direct contacts between infected animals, contaminated foods are also a risk of transmission. Leftover food that is carelessly disposed of can attract wild boars and lead to an infection. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture informs and sensitizes the public in these questions to prevent the spread of the ASP.

The next steps

The measures of the authorities are clear: if the suspicion is confirmed, affected animals must be killed immediately and harmless. In addition, restricted zones are set up that result in exhaustion restrictions for living pigs and their products. The long -term goal remains the early detection and fight against animal disease to break out and prevent large -scale distribution.

Developments related to the ASP in the region have high priority because the immense economic importance of pig farming is at stake. Every precautionary measure can help protect a well -coordinated system and to contain the spread of these dangerous animal disease. Stay tuned, we will keep you up to date with the further situation.