On 10 September 2020, the first case of African swine fever (ASF) in Germany was detected in Brandenburg in a dead wild boar. Further confirmed cases occurred in Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In 2021, there were outbreaks in four domestic pig herds and 2,715 in the wild boar population in Germany. In 2022, there have already been three outbreaks in domestic pig herds and 1,128 in wild boar. (As of 19 August 2022; source: https://www.fli.de/de/aktuelles/tierseuchengeschehen/afrikanische-schweinepest/)
Since 25 May 2022, ASF has also arrived in Baden-Württemberg, at a free-range pig farm in the district of Emmendingen. Based on current knowledge, transmission by wild boars can be ruled out. The virus was probably transmitted by humans. Measures were taken immediately to prevent further spread:
- Establishment of a protection zone with a radius of at least 3 km, followed by a surveillance zone with a radius of 10 km.
- Culling of the affected herd.
- Culling of the affected herd
- Serological sampling and genotyping of the pathogen
- Ban on the movement of pigs within the restricted zone
- Ban on the movement of meat, meat products, animal by-products, manure, dung and litter
ASF is a notifiable, highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs, but is harmless to humans and other domestic animals. Like classical swine fever, ASF is incurable and always fatal to infected animals. Infected animals develop severe but non-specific general symptoms. Photos of disease symptoms and noticeable organ changes are compiled on the website of the National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever: https://www.fli.de/de/institute/institut-fuer-virusdiagnostik-ivd/referenzlabore/nrl-fuer-asp/fotos-zu-asp-symptomen/
ASF is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, carcasses or food waste, or through contaminated bedding and enrichment materials. Humans can also be carriers, e.g. through contaminated vehicles, clothing or agricultural equipment.
The fact that ASF has now reached Baden-Württemberg shows how serious the disease is. Consistent adherence to biosecurity measures can prevent further spread in domestic and wild boar populations.
In order to inform farmers and hunters in Baden-Württemberg about ASF, the ASF Competence Centre of the Wildlife Research Centre of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Biosecurity Advisory Service of the Pig Health Service of the Animal Disease Fund, together with the BMEL-funded Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl (Animal Welfare Focus Network) and its project partners LAZBW Aulendorf and LSZ Boxberg, have designed a series of events. Three online information evenings have already taken place in 2022.
At the first event, Eva Sailer (biosecurity advisor, SGD Fellbach) described important biosecurity measures that pig farmers can use to protect their farms from infection. The four-member team of the project "Biosecurity Consulting in Pig Farming – ASF Prevention", funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR), has been offering individual and free advice to farms in Baden-Württemberg since 1 August 2021 and is available to answer questions about ASF. In the second presentation, Dr Hans-Peter Sporleder (ASF Competence Centre LAZBW Aulendorf) explained the practical procedure in the event of an ASF case in wild boar and how hunters should respond correctly.
In the follow-up event, Eva Sailer and Janine Nachtsheim (ASF Competence Centre LAZBW Aulendorf) explained what pig farmers and hunters can expect when an area is declared a restriction zone. They clearly explained the terminology and the legal requirements and measures that must be implemented in an affected area, and also answered critical questions.
The third part of the series dealt intensively with the search for fallen game in the affected area. Dr Sandra Kallähn (ASP Competence Centre LAZBW Aulendorf) spoke about the necessity and implementation of a targeted and effective search for fallen game, which is like looking for a needle in a haystack. In addition to this, Dr Christina Jehle presented the carcass search dog project at the Retten und Helfen (TCRH) training centre in Mosbach. She explained how, in the affected area near Emmendingen, the deployment of over 20 carcass search dog teams was organised and managed within a very short time to search the forests for wild boar carcasses. The TCRH trains dogs and their handlers to form ASF carcass search teams on behalf of the MLR. The dogs are trained to find wild boar carcasses, keep their distance and indicate their findings to the handler. The aim is to determine whether there has been an entry into the wild boar population.
Author: Josefine Scheinert, Boxberg Education and Knowledge Centre