Pig disease African swine fever detected for the first time in Baden-Württemberg
Breaking News: African Swine Fever Detected in Wild Boar in Baden-Württemberg
African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed in a wild boar in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, leading to immediate action from the authorities to contain the outbreak.
The detection was made on August 26, 2022, and was confirmed by a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. As a result, certain areas in Baden-Württemberg have been designated as Restricted Zone II (infected zone) and Restricted Zone I (buffer zone).
Restricted Zone II encompasses a 15-kilometer radius around the location of the ASF outbreak among wild boars. Access and traffic restrictions will be imposed in both Restricted Zones I and II. In addition, an extended buffer zone is being established in the Neckar-Odenwald district as a precautionary measure.
Intensified wild boar hunting and sampling of shot and found dead or accidently killed animals are ordered in the extended buffer zone. Minister Hauk, the state's agriculture minister, emphasized that the deployment of humans and dogs is indispensable in the fight against African Swine Fever.
The search teams are supported by drone teams with thermal imaging cameras. The Training Center Retten and Helfen (TCRH) from Mosbach is being used to search for wild boar carcasses in the designated search area. The TCRH search dog teams have already successfully supported the neighboring state of Hesse in the search for wild boar carcasses.
Land and forestry use may be restricted, and the establishment of hunting trails may be ordered in Restricted Zone II. Temporary hunting bans, searches for dead wild boars, and examinations of all dead or shot wild boars are also ordered in Restricted Zone II.
Pig farms in Restricted Zone II are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures and restrictions. Minister Hauk appealed to all pig keepers to make extensive use of the free advice on biosecurity measures offered by the Baden-Württemberg Animal Disease Fund.
The state government of Baden-Württemberg has a measure plan for prevention and control of African Swine Fever that has been consistently implemented by the MLR. Minister Hauk also appealed to consumers and retailers to support pig farmers by buying pork.
The detected ct value, indicating viral load, was high, which is a cause for concern. However, the minister thanked the ASP competence team, the forest workers of Forest BW, and the Technical Relief Agency (THW) for their great support and excellent work.
The interdisciplinary ASP competence group and the animal health task force were officially announced by the state of Baden-Württemberg in connection with the outbreak of African Swine Fever on August 26, 2022. The district office of the Rhein-Neckar District is implementing disease control measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
The spread of African Swine Fever to Europe via Russia and the Baltic states has been a concern for several months, with several jump infections in various countries, including Italy and Hesse. Agriculture has been affected by the spread of the disease, and the authorities are working diligently to contain the outbreak in Baden-Württemberg.
