African swine fever: exclusion zones remain, danger to the animals!

African swine fever: exclusion zones remain, danger to the animals!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the situation surrounding African swine fever (ASF) remains tense. Despite intensive measures, the exclusion zones and fences remain active as the disease still poses a threat to pig populations today. While ASF is harmless to humans, it is almost always fatal to pigs. A spread could have massive economic consequences for agriculture, which is why authorities remain vigilant. Like that daily news reported, intensive educational and monitoring measures by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) lead to strict control.

African swine fever, which originated in Africa and had its first outbreaks in Georgia since 2007, has spread significantly across Europe in recent years. Common suspects among risk factors are high wild boar densities and inadequate biosecurity in countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland. Current events in these neighboring countries increase the risk of an introduction to Germany, which also brings the investigators in Rhineland-Palatinate onto the scene. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has therefore in the past highlighted the importance of faster early detection in order to quickly isolate such outbreaks.

Measures and effects of ASF

In order to contain the spread of ASF, extensive exclusion zones were set up in the affected area. These include not only physical barriers in the form of fences, but also strict movement restrictions for live pigs and their products. The last major spread was in the Brandenburg region, where some outbreaks were documented in 2024. But there were already entries in Rhineland-Palatinate; Among other things, a case became known in August 2024 that caused enormous concern. The affected regions are under constant observation due to the risk of infection BMEL explained.

The training of specialist staff, information to farmers and cooperation with neighboring countries are other important measures in the fight against ASF. Feedback from neighboring countries and coordination in the fight against animal diseases are of great importance in order to minimize the impending risks for domestic agriculture.

Stability despite challenges

At first glance, the situation may seem worrying, but with the intensive cooperation between the federal government, the states and the affected animal owners, progress is also being made. Although Germany's excellent transport infrastructure poses risks for introduction, it also ensures rapid action and reactions by specialists involved in combating the disease.

Despite the stressful circumstances, there is also positive news: shipping traffic on the Moselle was able to resume after the test run, which opened up new economic prospects for the neighboring communities. For example, a press conference on ASP will also be held in Ingelheim in order to promote exchange between the affected stakeholders. This shows that the efforts to deal with African swine fever are being tackled with a good hand.