African swine fever: First cases discovered in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district!

African swine fever: First cases discovered in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district!

African swine fever (ASF) has arrived in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. Today the first case was confirmed in a wild boar carcass in the bison display enclosure in Bad Berleburg. While around 1 million domestic pigs live in the Vechta district of Lower Saxony, the number in the affected Siegen-Wittgenstein district is rather modest with only around 700 animals. This does not make the situation any less worrying, as ASF poses significant economic concerns, even though this viral infection is harmless to humans. The last major ASF outbreak in Germany occurred in 1993 in Vechta, where 1.6 million animals had to be culled, which severely shocked the industry.

Hunters, farmers and veterinarians are currently working hand in hand to prevent the virus from spreading further. Hunting is no longer allowed in the exclusion zone, but this does give hunters the opportunity to hunt wild boars more intensively outside of this region. These social animals can spread the virus quickly, which is why hunting must be intensified. In addition, specially trained dogs are used to monitor and locate carcasses. It is important that the public call when they see a dead wild boar instead of looking for it themselves.

Measures and precautions

The health and economic risks of ASF should not be underestimated. For pig farmers, this means that they are no longer allowed to keep their animals outside and are subject to strict transport restrictions. This could lead to a significant decline in the pig market as many countries consider trade restrictions to prevent the introduction of the virus.

ASF is not a new phenomenon in Germany; The first confirmed case in a wild boar dates back to September 10, 2020, followed by further cases in 2021. The symptoms in sick animals are frightening: high fever, movement disorders and ultimately the death of most infected pigs within a week. As there is currently no available vaccine, biosecurity measures are of utmost importance. This includes strict hygiene and monitoring of the animal population, such as the ASF risk traffic light system at the University of Vechta, which is recommended for companies to monitor themselves.

Consequences for the region

Concern remains that the detected cases could create new outbreaks in surrounding areas, potentially leading to an extension of the exclusion zone. So far, ten carcasses have been recovered in the Kirchhundem area and experts fear that the spread could have been facilitated by illegal disposal of meat products.

The coming period will be crucial. Planned events in the exclusion zone, such as the Shark Attack Bike festival, have already been canceled to avoid additional risks. This is a serious situation for all concerned and cooperation between the different groups remains essential to prevent the spread of ASF and ensure the welfare of pig farming in the region.