African Swine Fever - District Mainz-Bingen: First pig plague investigation positive
At a wild boar in Oppenheim (Mainz-Bingen district), the State Investigation Office has identified the African Swine Fever. However, confirmation from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute is still pending, according to the district administration. Previously, the virus had already been confirmed in the neighboring Alzey-Worms district and in the Hessian district of Groß-Gerau.
Rules around the discovery site in the Oppenheimer Waldchen are now in place to ensure that it remains as quiet as possible, so that the animals are not disturbed and the virus is not spread further. Therefore, recreational activities are restricted within a radius of up to three kilometers, grilling areas are closed, and parts of the area are fenced off. Cyclists are advised to avoid the Rhine bike path, where many wild boars live, as much as possible. In addition, there is an absolute hunting ban and regulations for farmers. In a larger radius of 15 kilometers, dogs must be kept on a leash.
African Swine Fever is a notifiable animal disease in pigs and wild boars with high mortality. Carriers are sick pigs, but also virus-carrying animal carcasses and slaughter and food waste. Vaccines do not currently exist. However, there is no risk of transmission to humans and other animal species.
- The discovery of African Swine Fever in the Rhineland-Palatinate district of Oppenheim has raised concerns among local farmers.
- The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, a renowned research institution, is currently conducting tests to confirm the presence of the African Swine Fever virus in the wild boar from Oppenheim.
- If confirmed, the African Swine Fever outbreak in the Alzey-Worms district and the Hessian district of Groß-Gerau would spread to another part of Rhineland-Palatinate.
- In an effort to contain the disease, the District Administration has implemented strict measures near the discovery site in Great-Gerau's Oppenheimer Waldchen.
- The virus has also been detected in pigs in Bingen, a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate's Mainz-Bingen district.
- Farmers in the vicinity of Oppenheim are urged to adhere to strict biosecurity protocols to prevent further spread of the African Swine Fever within their farms and beyond.
