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Swine fever in North Rhine-Westphalia: 78 wild boars dead – Warendorf is spared!
In Siegen-Wittgenstein, fences to contain African swine fever have already made important progress.
Swine fever in North Rhine-Westphalia: 78 wild boars dead – Warendorf is spared!
A worrying issue concerns animal owners in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). So far, 78 wild boars have died from African swine fever (ASF), and according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Agriculture, there are also ten suspected cases. All confirmed cases occurred in the so-called exclusion zone II, which covers a radius of around 30 kilometers around the affected areas. Certain restrictions have also been introduced in this zone, for example prohibiting leaving designated paths or allowing dogs to roam freely. These measures are intended to contain the spread of the virus, which is harmless to humans and other animals but is often fatal in domestic and wild pigs.
Volunteers from the Technical Relief Organization (THW) are particularly active in the Warendorf district, where around 850,000 pigs live, and are practicing for emergencies. The Warendorf district has so far been spared from the epidemic, but this has not caused the authorities to relax the protective measures. For prevention, vehicles are sprayed with disinfectant solutions to avoid virus transmission. Although ASF infection has not yet been detected in domestic pigs in North Rhine-Westphalia, the situation remains tense.
Protection measures and fences
In order to control the spread of ASF, the construction of protective fences began a month ago in the affected districts of Olpe and Siegen-Wittgenstein. A total of 45 kilometers of fence was built in Olpe and 25 kilometers in Siegen-Wittgenstein. As a precautionary measure, several kilometers of ASF protection fence are also being built in the Hochsauerland district. These mobile and fixed fences are crucial to prevent the spread of the animal disease.
The fence system is largely completed except for remaining work and is supplemented by gates or ramps that enable forest visitors, hunters and agriculture and forestry to pass through the fences safely. The responsible districts are responsible for the measures to combat animal diseases and are doing everything they can to keep the situation under control.
Concern about pig farming is also heightened by the fact that ASF is high in wild boars. In the current situation, farmers are advised to remain vigilant and take all precautionary measures. It is important to ensure the health of animals while minimizing the economic impact of this animal disease, which could affect the entire sector.
While the situation in North Rhine-Westphalia remains tense, we wish all those affected the best wishes for a speedy normalization. It remains to be hoped that the measures taken will be effective and the health threat to the pig population will be averted as soon as possible. The responsible advice centers offer support for animal owners who have questions about the protective measures. Check back regularly to stay up to date.