Fireworks ban in Hesse: Ministry of Agriculture warns of swine fever!

The Hessian Ministry of Agriculture has directed an urgent appeal to the population to forego fireworks in certain areas outside of closed towns. The aim of this measure is to minimize the risk that the fiery works in infected wild boars are startled and the virus of the African swine plague (ASP).

This appeal applies in particular to the swine fever core zone and the extended restricted zone II. The situation remains dynamic, since further ASP cases were recently found outside the previous core area. Near Seeheim-Jugenheim in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg, two dead animals were positively tested for the virus. In addition, it is checked whether further fences can be built east of the A5 in the Odenwald, and this is done in coordination with the state of Baden-Württemberg.

growing concern about ASP

In addition, several positive finds were recorded in the area of ​​a former clay pit between Bensheim and Heppenheim in Bergstrasse. The ministry concretizes that the appeal to do without fireworks also serves to slow down the spread of the African swine plague in Hesse. The dynamic development of the epidemic requires a preventive reaction to protect the health of the wild boar population in the affected regions.

As the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture further emphasizes, the last expansion of the restricted zone has been expanded after several cases of infected wild boar, including in the Rheingau near Eltville. Protection against the ASP is of great importance to prevent further spread of the virus.