African swine fever in the Mainz-Bingen district: situation more relaxed, but caution remains!

African swine fever in the Mainz-Bingen district: situation more relaxed, but caution remains!

African swine fever (ASF) continues to cause concern for farmers and authorities, but there is hope in the Rhine-Main region: the dynamics of the disease have noticeably weakened. This emerges from a report by nah-news.de. No new positive findings have been reported in the Mainz-Bingen district since April 2023, indicating that the situation is at least temporarily stable. However, this positive development leaves no room for an all-clear, because the virus has the unpleasant property of lingering in nature for a long time. Two years must pass after the last discovery for the epidemic to be declared finally over.

The updates on the situation include new general orders for the exclusion zones II A and II B, which were published on the district administration's homepage. These changes particularly affect the upcoming 2026 harvest in areas outside the high-risk zones, such as along the Rhine. In addition, some previously prohibited hunting methods were approved upon application and after examination. These measures have contributed to the wild boar population being greatly reduced in the region.

Successful hunting measures

An impressive number: Over 800 wild boars were shot this year in the affected exclusion zones alone, especially along the Rhine. The district has shown great commitment and paid out a total of almost 70,000 euros in bonuses to the hunters between November 2024 and November 2025. A further 60,000 euros were made available by the district committee until the end of May 2025 to actively support the fight against the virus. A state-financed permanent fence on the A60 is expected to be closed in December 2023 to stop the inflow and outflow of wild boars. A fence on the Rhine between Mainz-Mombach and Bingen is currently in the planning phase, and its construction will be complicated, so it cannot begin before May 2026.

What does the situation mean for farmers and the population? Although ASF is harmless to humans, the economic consequences can be serious. This highly contagious viral infection affects both domestic and wild boars and almost always results in the death of the infected animals. In addition, ASF poses a serious threat to pig farming.

Background information on ASF

ASF was originally identified in Africa and has spread from Georgia to various European countries since 2007. In Germany, outbreaks have so far been documented in several federal states, including Brandenburg, Saxony and Lower Saxony. The dangers of introduction into Germany are increased by high wild boar densities and low biosecurity measures in neighboring countries to the east. The risk from illegal shipments of contaminated material and the highway network carrying contaminated pork and products is particularly critical.

The measures to combat this epidemic are the responsibility of the federal states. They are taking comprehensive measures to contain ASF, including through education and monitoring. The timely early detection of introductions is essential.

Overall, it is clear that despite the positive development in the region, African swine fever remains a serious issue that has a strong impact on both animal husbandry and the economy. The next few months will be crucial in order to continue to keep the epidemic under control and ultimately defeat it once and for all.