Fight against African swine fever: Region moves forward resolutely!

Fight against African swine fever: Region moves forward resolutely!

African swine fever (ASF) remains a serious threat to pig farming in Germany. A total of 48 infected wild boars have been discovered in the Mainz-Bingen district since July 2024. Looking back at the developments of the last few months, Dr. Markus Wacker, head of the veterinary office, stated that numerous precautions have been taken to contain the spread of the virus. This includes the establishment of exclusion zones, the construction of many kilometers of fences, as well as information campaigns and the intensification of cooperation between various actors. Dr. Wacker thanked all the helpers involved for their commitment and noted that the morning ended with a shared brunch - a small recognition for the great effort.

ASF is a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild and domestic pigs and is almost always fatal. Fortunately, the disease is harmless to humans. Since 2014, ASF has been spreading in Europe, particularly in southeastern countries, and in Germany it has also gained a foothold in several federal states - including Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. The latter federal states struggled with outbreaks in kept pigs between 2021 and 2023, but all cases were successfully contained through strict official measures.

Challenges and measures

The authority reports that ASF is transmitted, among other things, through direct contact between wild boars and kept pigs and through food containing the virus. Food leftovers disposed of carelessly can attract wild boars and contribute to the spread of the disease. In order to effectively contain the spread, hygiene measures for travelers and transporters are essential. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has increased educational and monitoring measures and is working closely with neighboring countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic.

The economic damage that can result from exclusion zones and trade restrictions is particularly critical. As part of these preventive measures, protection zones with a radius of three kilometers and monitoring zones of ten kilometers were set up, in which stricter requirements apply. The movement of pigs and their products is strictly regulated within these zones to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Looking into the future

With a continued look to the future, the fight against ASF remains a central task. The measures taken so far have shown success, but the threat remains. In view of these challenges, livestock farms are required to arm themselves with biosecurity measures against the introduction of ASF. Early recognition and action are crucial to counteract further spread.

In this respect, cooperation between authorities, animal owners and society remains central. Animal disease control is a shared concern in which everyone can make a contribution. And even though ASF poses a serious threat, the attitude of local helpers and the willingness to fight the disease is a ray of hope in this challenging time.

Further information on the measures and the current situation regarding African swine fever can be found at Mainz-Bingen, BMEL and Animal disease information for Lower Saxony.