Swine fever is spreading: Wildwald Vosswinkel reacts with measures!

Swine fever is spreading: Wildwald Vosswinkel reacts with measures!

The Vosswinkel wild forest in North Rhine-Westphalia is reacting to the most alarming developments of the last few days: The Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection reports new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in the Olpe district and the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. This highly contagious viral infection only affects wild and domestic pigs and is completely harmless to humans, but it almost always leads to the death of the infected animals. The wild forest has therefore taken immediate protective measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Three infected offspring have already been identified within a 500-meter radius of where diseased animals were discovered. In addition, another wild boar carcass in Bad Berleburg tested positive for ASF. For this reason, the wild boar territory in the wild forest was temporarily closed. This was primarily done to prevent people from unwittingly contributing to the spread of the virus. There is a risk that the virus can be transported via footwear, car tires or even in food that is improperly disposed of.

Drastic containment measures

From this weekend, strict prevention measures will apply in the Wildwald Vosswinkel. This includes, among other things, the construction of protective fences, the introduction of controlled distance regulations and regular disinfection measures. Visitor guidance is also reinforced by appropriate warning signs and controls by trained staff. “We ask all guests to pay special attention and to follow the designated paths,” explain those responsible at wildwald.de.html). As part of these measures, the game conservation team will also work closely with authorities and a veterinarian to regularly monitor the animals for signs of illness.

The agricultural and consumer protection authorities are concerned and have set up a telephone hotline and an email address through which citizens can report unusual behavior by wild boars. “There is something to be said, we all have to work together to prevent the spread of ASF,” is the appeal from the ministry.

Prevention is key

Educational work has been particularly important since the virus gained a foothold from southeastern Europe to Germany and other federal states in 2014. “Despite the fact that ASF is harmless to humans, the exclusion zones and trade restrictions cause significant economic damage,” warns the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. It is therefore all the more important to minimize the economic consequences through comprehensive preventive measures. As a result, the public discussion about the proper disposal of leftover food was intensified. It is important to dispose of food waste safely to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Experts emphasize that the virus is extremely resilient: it can survive on wood for up to 190 days, up to 6 months in preserved pork and even up to 6 years in frozen pork. This long-term contagiousness shows how important all the measures mentioned are to protect both wild and domestic pigs. A rapid response is critical for animal health and the region's economy.

We are all called upon to act in an environmentally conscious manner, because each individual can contribute to containing ASF. Together we should make sure not to leave any leftover food in nature and pay attention to the health of the animals. After all, it is important to preserve the beautiful nature of the Vosswinkel wild forest!

Further information on the protective measures can be found at wa.de and bmel.de.