Swine fever in southern Hesse: epidemic firmly under control, but not defeated!

Swine fever in southern Hesse: epidemic firmly under control, but not defeated!

African swine fever (ASF) remains a hot topic in southern Hesse. A year after the first positive case, which was discovered in front of the former Opel racetrack in Rüsselsheim, the Hessian authorities have now largely got the disease under control. Nevertheless, the danger has not yet been averted. The virus was detected in Germany a year ago and since then ASF has spread rapidly in the region, but there are preventive measures in place.

As the FAZ reported, the first infection was registered in the Groß-Gerau district on June 15, 2024. The authorities sounded the alarm, but thanks to significant efforts they were able to contain the spread. In the last twelve months, around 5,804 wild boar carcasses were examined, of which 2,192 tested positive for ASF. The numbers are alarmingly high, but the regional measures are having an effect.

Active against the epidemic

To control the wild boars, 280 kilometers of permanent fencing and 300 kilometers of mobile electric fences have already been built within the region. In addition, drones searched around 265,000 hectares and dogs searched 208,000 hectares for carcasses. The fight against ASF has cost Hesse a lot: over 20 million euros have been invested to date.

Hesse's Agriculture Minister Ingmar Jung (CDU) emphasizes that the disease is under control, but not yet defeated. “White zones” are an important part of the control concept. These tightly fenced areas are supposed to be freed from viruses through intensive hunting of wild boars. For hunting enthusiasts, there is even a bonus of up to 200 euros per wild boar killed.

Wild boars in sight

The challenges in the region are diverse. One suggestion about the origins of the infection suggests that a wild boar may have ingested leftover meat from Eastern Europe that was discarded by tourists or long-distance drivers. The virus itself has not been detected in Germany and Poland, but is increasingly occurring in the Balkans, especially in Romania and Bulgaria.

As additional information, the BMEL It is clear that ASF is a highly contagious viral infection. This affects both domestic and wild boars and is usually fatal. However, the disease poses no danger to humans because the pathogen is not transmittable.

The intensity of the control methods is also reflected in the measures that apply to paths, walks or forest activities. Visitors to infected regions are required to keep their dogs on a leash and not leave paths to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition, all contact with wild boar carcasses should be blocked until the responsible authorities have been informed.

In summary, it can be said that the ASP continues to have the southern Hesse region under control. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming months. However, it is clear that the control measures and cooperation between the various authorities and the population are crucial to further contain the spread.

This provides further information on the current status and the animal disease situation in Germany FLI, whose pages provide detailed insights into the fight against ASF and the challenges.