Red alert in NRW: First suspected case of African swine fever!

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The first suspected case of African swine fever is detected in the Olpe district. Preventative measures are already underway.

Im Kreis Olpe wird der erste Verdachtsfall auf Afrikanische Schweinepest festgestellt. Präventive Maßnahmen sind bereits im Gange.
The first suspected case of African swine fever is detected in the Olpe district. Preventative measures are already underway.

Red alert in NRW: First suspected case of African swine fever!

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the first suspected case of African swine fever (ASF) is causing concern. An attentive hunter discovered a dead wild boar in the municipality of Kirchhundem in the Olpe district. The Westphalia Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) in Arnsberg has evaluated the first test positive for swine fever, but final confirmation from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) is still pending. What is important is that so far it is only a single suspected case and the authorities are responding immediately.

Preventive measures are already underway to prevent the possible spread of ASF in the region. The Ministry of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia has convened an ASP coordination group for this purpose. Their goal is to limit the animal disease to as small an area as possible and to avoid transmission to domestic pig populations. In this context, the Westphalian-Lippian Agricultural Association appeals to farmers to take precautions to protect their animals, because ASF can almost always be fatal for pigs.

African swine fever – a serious problem

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral infection that affects both wild and domestic pigs. This animal disease was first detected within the EU in 2014 and has since spread to various federal states. In addition to Brandenburg and Saxony, cases of wild boars with ASF have also been documented in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, as the figures show. The main routes of transmission are direct contact between infected animals and human behavior - for example through improper disposal of leftover food at rest stops. NRW Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen warned against this careless practice.

The virus can be spread through clothing, shoes, car tires or leftover food, such as sausage sandwiches. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to hygiene, especially in the areas where wild boars live. In the event of an outbreak, the infected animals usually have to be killed and destroyed to prevent further spread.

Reactions and measures in the region

In response to the suspected case, controls were increased in the forests near the site of the discovery. Trained search dog teams are used to quickly identify possible further infections. The authorities expect restrictions on the right to enter forests in the restricted area around where the wild boar was found. Association President Hubertus Beringmeier has pointed out that the ASP will probably not stop at North Rhine-Westphalia, which is why a watchful eye should be kept on developments.

The spread of African swine fever is an important issue for agriculture in Germany because the impact on pig breeding and thus also on the food industry is significant. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is intensifying its educational and monitoring measures in order to combat the animal disease in a timely manner and to prevent its introduction into domestic pig populations.

For further information about African swine fever and the ongoing measures in North Rhine-Westphalia, please see nw.de and land.nrw. The BMEL also offers more detailed insights into the animal disease and the associated challenges.