African swine fever: Rhineland-Palatinate is fighting the disease!

African swine fever: Rhineland-Palatinate is fighting the disease!

What's new about African swine fever (ASF)? This highly contagious viral infection particularly affects wild and domestic pigs, but does not pose a danger to humans. The last few years have been marked by concerns and measures to contain the epidemic, which has also been keeping Germany in suspense since 2020. As the South German newspaper reported, the first case was recorded in Rhineland-Palatinate on July 9, 2022. Since then, the number of registered cases has increased, with a total of 74, mainly in the districts of Mainz-Bingen, Alzey-Worms and Rhein-Hunsrück. The last virus detection was on a bone in April 2023.

What makes the situation particularly worrying? No infected carcasses have been found in the Mainz-Bingen district in recent months, but bones continue to appear. The virus remains in dead animals for up to several weeks and can even remain infectious for years in frozen meat, such as the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture supplemented. Transmission occurs through contact with infected food, animal carcasses or slaughterhouse waste.

Chain containment measures

To prevent the spread of the virus, over 360 kilometers of electric fences have been installed in several districts. However, these fences must be constantly monitored as they are often damaged or even sabotaged. Over 30 devices that power these fences have already been stolen. This shows how serious the threat is and that the challenge of containing the virus is not only natural but also influenced by human behavior.

Despite these measures, farmers sometimes face considerable restrictions. Animal losses due to prophylactic culling and high testing costs not only lure farmers, but also put the entire pig industry to the test. Pig prices have fallen sharply due to the epidemic, which is causing existential concerns for many farms. According to a report by the South German newspaper reports, farmers in restricted areas face particular challenges.

Preventive steps and the role of hunters

In terms of prevention, strict hygiene and biosecurity measures are essential. This also includes intensifying the hunting of wild boars. Experts recommend that hunters take samples from fallen game to further contain the spread of ASF. If an ASF case is suspected, the relevant authorities must be informed immediately as carcasses must be recovered immediately.

As consumers, the question is: What can we do? Eating ASF-infected game meat is not dangerous for humans, but hygiene measures are very important when handling pork. There are no significant dangers when walking in the forest, but some areas should still be avoided if entry bans are imposed there.

So stay informed and support the efforts to combat African swine fever, which affects everyone. The health of our pig herds can have a direct impact on local economies and agriculture.