Alarm in the forest: Aujeszky virus discovered at wild boar in NRW!

Alarm in the forest: Aujeszky virus discovered at wild boar in NRW!

In an alarming message, the Aujeszky virus was demonstrated in a wild boar in North Rhine-Westphalia, and this could have fatal consequences for dogs and cats. The case in Engelskirchen-Kaltenbach marks the first proof in the Oberberg district since 2022. In contrast, the virus in neighboring Euskirchen is much more common, eight to ten cases per month. This could particularly worry about dog owners, since the virus is a serious threat to many mammals, except for humans and some animals such as horses.

The virus known as the "Pseudowut" has been found in 25 counties since 2011, with the numbers rise alarming in countries such as Hesse and Lower Saxony. The transmission takes place via body fluids and contaminated objects, while the virus can remain infectious for up to 36 days in muscle meat. For dogs that are near wild boar, there is a highest risk, especially during hunting. The symptoms in the course of the disease are shocking: from disorientation to severe cramps, which often lead to self -mutilation. Hunters and dog owners should therefore be careful and strictly avoid contact with wild boar. Information on this development is here to be found.