African swine fever: Land Hessen takes determined measures!

African swine fever: Land Hessen takes determined measures!

On January 10, 2025, the concern for the spread of the African swine plague (ASP) in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district has increased again. By January 9, a total of 15 wild boars were positively tested for the virus. The locations of these animals extend over the municipalities of Griesheim, Weiterstadt, Mühltal and Seeheim-Jugenheim. The first district deputy Lutz Köhler referred to an increase in the number of cases on Bergstrasse and emphasized the urgency of the situation.

The state of Hesse will now evaluate the effects of restricted zones, but there is currently no specific information available from the district. Several measures are taken to contain the ASP. This includes the construction of a fence between the A67 and A5, the costs of which are estimated at around 80,000 euros, as well as regular floats to monitor the areas.

Current case numbers and measures

The number of cases in the surrounding circles illustrate the extent of the problem. The following positive cases were registered in the counties by January 8th:

The buffer zone around the locations is currently being assessed, while restrictions on forestry and hunting apply in the existing buffer zone on Frankenstein. Köhler explained that the majority of the new positive cases in the core area of ​​the ASP should be determined, which is why no further changes were necessary.

The measures for containment are urgently required because the African swine plague is a highly contagious viral infection that affects both house and wild boars and leads to the death of animals in almost all cases. The risk of infection is particularly high in contact with blood or carcass infected animals BMEL . The virus spread in Europe has increased since 2014, since the first outbreaks in Germany in 2020 in wild boars. It is important to emphasize that the ASP is not transferable to humans.

preventive measures and challenges

A central element of prevention consists in strict hygiene and biosecaps measures in pig farming. This also includes the management of wild boar population to control the spread of the disease. The hunt for wild boars plays a crucial role in reducing wild boar density and the containment of ASP. The challenge of monitoring limits is that people often contribute significantly to the spread of the virus across national borders.

Currently, the export options for pork from Germany are very limited due to the ASP restrictions. In view of this situation, consumers and farmers are asked to observe special hygiene measures. For farmers, it is crucial to avoid the contact between kept and wild boars and to consistently observe the corresponding hygiene regulations.

The developments of the coming weeks will be decisive for how the situation in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district and beyond can be handled. A stable and effective handling of the ASP is of great importance for animal husbandry and regional economy.