African swine fever under suspicion

Greifswald District in Vorpommern, Germany - African swine fever under suspicion

In a pig farm located in the region of Vorpommern-Greifswald, there's a suspicion that the pigs may be carrying the African swine fever virus. Officials from the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety, and Fisheries have conducted preliminary tests on samples, according to an announcement from the Agriculture Ministry. The results indicated a high likelihood of African swine fever. As a precaution, these samples have been sent to the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute for further confirmation.

As a consequence, the local Veterinary and Food Safety Authority has shut down the pig farm and put disease control measures into place.

"So far, there are no indications of the disease spreading among wild boars," said Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD). "That's a good thing," he added. However, investigators will begin searching for clues on Thursday to determine how the virus got there if the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute confirms the diagnosis. A final verdict is expected on the morrow.

African swine fever is a highly infectious, viral disease that affects both pigs and wild boars. It almost always leads to death and isn't treatable. Humans and other animal species can't catch the illness. The disease can be transmitted both directly, from one animal to another, or indirectly by way of contaminated objects such as clothing, shoes, and feed. Humans play a role in spreading the disease to other regions.

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1. The pig farm under investigation for African swine fever is located in the Fattening Farm region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, specifically in the District of Vorpomern-Greifswald, close to the city of Greifswald.
2. The discovery of African swine fever in Western Pomerania-Greifswald could have significant implications for the agriculture sector in the region, particularly pork production and livestock farming.
3. The regional Veterinary and Food Safety Authority in Rostock has been closely monitoring the situation and working in collaboration with the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, a renowned institute specializing in animal health and diseases based in Denmark, to determine the origin and extent of the outbreak.
4. Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus has urged farmers across the region to remain vigilant for any signs of the disease in their herds and to adhere strictly to biosecurity protocols to prevent further spread.
5. In the aftermath of the African swine fever announcement, the Ministry of Agriculture in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has issued guidelines and recommendations to animal farm operators, encouraging regular veterinary check-ups and contingency planning to mitigate potential risks.

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