Spread
The ASF in the European Union
The ASP has been performing in various EU countries since 2014. This animal disease, which is very important for pigs and wild boars, is increasingly spreading in Europe - starting from countries bordering the EU to the east.
Origin: How did ASF come to Europe?
The main distribution area of the ASF are sub-Saharan African countries. The ASF was probably introduced to Georgia from Africa. In June 2007, the first ASF outbreaks were reported in Georgia. The cause is suspected to be the illegal disposal of food waste that contained the ASF virus. In the period that followed, the ASF spread in Georgia and from there further and further north and west.
An entry of the ASF virus into Sardinia in 1978 has led to recurring outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boars there to this day. However, the epidemic has so far been limited to the island.
Unlike classical swine fever, African swine fever did not occur in Germany before the outbreak in September 2020.
Czech Republic: Success through early action
An outbreak of ASF that has occurred in the Czech Republic since ASF was first detected in wild boars in June 2017 was able to be contained through early detection and the adoption of intensive measures, so that in October 2018 the Czech Republic was able to comply with the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). declared the ASF outbreak to be extinct. This also included intensive hunting of the stocks.
Since February 2019, the Czech Republic has again been considered free of ASF in accordance with EU regulations.
Germany skipped: Belgium
The outbreak in Belgium shows that the ASF virus can be transported over long distances by the human factor. This means that the risk for Baden-Württemberg remains consistently high.
In the Belgian province of Luxembourg - in the border triangle of France-Luxembourg-Belgium, about 60 kilometers from the German border - ASF was found in wild boars found dead on September 13, 2018. Restriction zones were set up and, among other things, wild fences were built to demarcate the event - which only affected the wild boar population.
It is the Belgian authorities
managed to ensure that the epidemic did not spread to domestic pig populations.
Through intensive carcass experiments and hunting of wild boars, Belgium was able to be freed from the ASF virus again. Belgium is now considered ASF-free again.
Poland, Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Baden-Württemberg
Since November 14, 2019, cases of ASF in wild boars have also been detected in western Poland. The first evidence came about 80 kilometers from the German-Polish border.
After further cases near the German-Polish border, a first case was confirmed in Brandenburg in a wild boar on September 10, 2020, as well as further cases in wild boars within the defined endangered area. On October 31, 2020, ASF was detected in a healthy wild boar in Saxony.
The epidemic has now arrived in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the area south of Parchim and in Saxony north of Dresden. Even from the south, the ASP has advanced to less than 400 km (area north of Genoa). In Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, some domestic pig populations were also affected.
In May 2022, ASF was detected in a domestic pig herd in Baden-Württemberg in the Emmendingen district.
Consequences of uncontrolled spread
ASF: Incurable, fatal and requires control
Pigs (wild and domestic) can become infected through body fluids from sick animals or contaminated waste and equipment. Infected animals suffer from severe symptoms such as fever, gastrointestinal or breathing problems.
Both classical swine fever and ASF are incurable in pigs and are almost always fatal. Both diseases are among the notifiable animal diseases, where animal owners and animal carers are obliged to report suspected epidemics to the responsible veterinary office.
History of classical swine fever
Many farmers and veterinarians can still remember the devastating epidemic of classical swine fever. Between 1993 and 2002 alone, over 15 million pigs had to be killed in Europe.
The last case of the disease occurred in 2006 in the Borken district in North Rhine-Westphalia, where around 92.000 pigs in 185 farms were killed as a precaution.
Economic impact
An ASF event in the country has a huge negative impact on pork production. Exports to non-EU countries are collapsing because no country wants to import pork from a country with ASF.
Public infrastructure
Due to the necessary lockdown and hygiene measures, restrictions on transport infrastructure, commercial logistics as well as forestry and agriculture are to be expected.
Joint task
Due to the chains of infection, the sectors affected, the public/private infrastructure used and the serious consequences of an uncontrolled spread of ASF, measures against ASF are a common, cross-state and European task for authorities, organizations, companies, agriculture, hunting and forestry Private individuals.