Together against African swine fever: successes and challenges

Together against African swine fever: successes and challenges

There is currently progress in the fight against African swine fever (ASF) in the Groß-Gerau district. As rheinmainverlag.de reports, the ASF first appeared in the region in mid-June 2024. Since then, a total of 1,480 wild boars and bones have been sampled up to August 5, 2025, of which 604 tested positive for the virus.

Although the gaps between detections of the virus in dead wild boars are increasing, the recent case of a positive wild boar found on June 28, 2025 remains a warning sign. The first district councilor Adil Oyan expressed cautious optimism, but at the same time warned against negligence.

First successes in disease management

The measures to combat ASF are already showing initial success. Intensive carcass testing and targeted hunting to reduce the wild boar population are crucial steps to contain the spread of the virus. By the end of March 2025, 107 wild boars had already been shot, and between April 1 and July 29, 647 more were killed. This drastic reduction in the wild boar population helps break the chain of infection.

But the population also plays an important role in combating ASF. Recommended measures include keeping dogs on a leash in the forest, avoiding leftover food, and reporting but not touching dead animals. Hunters are advised to further reduce the wild boar population through hunting and to report any finds to the veterinary authorities. It is also important to check the electric fences regularly.

Biosecurity measures for farmers

It is essential for farmers to adhere to strict biosecurity measures. This includes observing epidemic hygiene, storing feed and animal waste safely and immediately reporting any illnesses in pigs. In addition, access controls for pig stalls must be strictly implemented. The central role of the veterinary office is undisputed.

ASF is a viral infectious disease that only affects pigs and cannot be transmitted to humans. As stmuv.bayern.de explains, transmission occurs through direct contact with infected animals or through contaminated products. In Germany, the first case of ASF was detected in September 2020 near the German-Polish border. Since then, there have been disease control measures in various federal states, including Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, some of which have been successful in eradicating the virus.

In Hesse, where ASF is currently rampant alongside Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, the risk that the disease will spread further is growing. Prevention measures, including information campaigns and intensive monitoring, have already been intensified in several federal states.

It remains to be hoped that the measures taken to contain ASF will continue to be successful in the future. In order to learn lessons from the current situation, it is important to maintain dialogue between farmers, hunters and the population and work together on solutions. This is the only way the region can effectively meet the challenges of ASF.