The African Swine Fever has been detected in domestic pigs in Germany for the first time. The source of the virus is still unknown. In April 2021, the virus infected 1,267 wild boars in Brandenburg. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection (MSGIV) has confirmed that the virus has now spread to domestic pigs in the country. According to the ministry, 200 pigs in the Spree-Neiße and Märkisch-Oderland districts have been affected. The infected animals will be killed and disposed of to prevent further spread of the virus. The farms have been closed by the relevant veterinary authorities.
The Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg confirmed the first detection of the virus, which was then verified by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, the national reference laboratory. The Brandenburg Consumer Protection Minister, Ursula Nonnemacher, has emphasized the importance of quickly identifying how the virus was transmitted to domestic pigs to prevent further infections. Investigations are already underway. The virus has been spreading from Poland for almost a year, and the solid fence along the Oder and Neiße rivers has been closed. Six core areas in Brandenburg have been identified for systematic case search and removal to contain the spread of the virus.
Nonnemacher has urged all pig farms to strictly adhere to biosafety measures to prevent further outbreaks in domestic pig farming. The disease is almost always fatal for infected pigs, but it cannot be transmitted to other animal species or humans. Contact with the animals or consumption of pork is also safe for humans. The detection of the virus in domestic pigs is a significant setback in the fight against the African Swine Fever in Germany. The authorities are working to contain the spread of the virus and prevent further outbreaks.
