Diseases - Drones and a long fence against African Swine Fever
Beginning of July, the African Swine Fever (ASF) reached Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, after a first reported case in neighboring Südhessen. Measures are being taken to prevent the spread of this lethal disease for wild and domestic pigs. Notably, a 30-kilometer-long electric fence has been erected near Rhein in southern Mainz.
So far, five cases in Rheinland-Pfalz
According to the animal disease information system of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, five cases of African Swine Fever have been reported officially in Rheinland-Pfalz. The disease was detected in four wild boars in the Alzey-Worms district and one wild boar in the Mainz-Bingen district. Domestic pigs were not affected yet.
Moreover, there are currently four suspected cases among wild boars. These cases are located in the already affected districts of Alzey-Worms and Mainz-Bingen.
What exactly is the African Swine Fever and what makes it dangerous?
The viral disease that can affect both wild and domestic pigs is harmless to humans. However, it leads to the death of nearly all infected pigs within a week, according to the LUA. Unlike classical swine fever, there is no vaccine against African Swine Fever.
The virus can also be transmitted through contaminated food. As the LUA states, "a single slice of contaminated pork sausage is enough to infect local pigs." Hunters and hunteresses should also thoroughly clean their shoes, clothing, and knives after a hunt in affected areas. "A single dried blood spot from an infected wild boar can be enough to infect local animals."
In the EU guidelines for African Swine Fever, the disease is described as "a devastating, usually fatal infectious disease of pigs and wild boars." It poses a serious threat to pig farmers worldwide, can have severe health consequences for agricultural businesses, significantly disrupt international trade in animals and animal products, and cause massive economic losses.
What is being done in Rheinland-Pfalz to prevent the spread?
Restriction zones have been established, with special regulations applying. According to the report from the Environmental Ministry, a so-called restriction zone covers approximately 49,500 hectares, of which around 932 hectares are forested, more than 36,000 hectares are agricultural land. In this area, there are 42 farms with 599 pigs.
According to a general order of the Mainz-Bingen district, no living wild boars, no wild boars hunted in the zone, and no wild boar products can be brought out of the "Infected Zone." A leash law applies for dogs in the area. Livestock shows with pigs, such as fairs or auctions, are prohibited. Any discovered, dead wild boars should be reported to the district administrations. Pig farms must take disinfection measures, and pigs from farms cannot leave the zone.
An African Swine Fever crisis center has been set up at the Environmental Ministry in Mainz. Drones are being used to fly over designated areas to detect wild boar presence and carcasses. The drone missions are coordinated by the Research Institute for Forest and Agricultural Engineering (FAWF).
Along the railway track near the Federal Highway 9 on the Rhine, south of Mainz, approximately from Nackenheim to Guntersblum, a roughly 30 kilometer long electric fence is expected to be installed soon. It is intended to prevent the African Swine Fever from being transported to other regions. Further fences are being considered along the Autobahn 63, according to the Mainz-Bingen District Administration. The Mainz-Bingen District also called for no tourist activities and celebrations to be carried out in the Rhein region between Oppenheim and Guntersblum - the large wine festivals in the affected communities are, however, explicitly excluded.
The African Swine Fever is also a major concern for the Rhineland-Palatinate Hunting Association. Through a partner, free training for drone pilots is being offered to members. In addition, hunters with trained ASP carcass detection dogs are searching for infected pigs. Hunters, who know their territories well, advise on-site in the fight against the epidemic. The Association states that it is in close coordination with the Environmental Ministry. If an outbreak occurs in a pig farm (which has not happened so far), the affected farm receives compensation. The compensation, according to the Environmental Ministry, is covered half by the Disease Control Fund and half by the state.
An outbreak in the Landau Zoo would be "full disaster"
For Landau Zoo Director Jens-Ove Heckel, an outbreak in the zoo would be "a full disaster". "That's the worst-case scenario that should never happen, never occur," he told the German Press Agency. "But even a dead infected wild boar in any grain field in southern Rhineland-Palatinate would have dramatic consequences for us, as it would mean an embargo in the affected region. So: The closer the swine fever comes, the more seriously it must be taken."
The problem is: "There is no vaccine, no preventive measure," explained Heckel. Of course, research is being done. "But we're not talking about months, we're talking about years." As chairman of the Zoological Society for Species and Population Protection (ZGAP), he also has an international perspective. "I see the dramatic consequences of the swine fever above all in Southeast Asia, where the most endangered wild boar species have their last refuge. The animals are existentially threatened in their natural habitat." It's good that the ZGAP declared the European Wild Boar the Zoo Animal of the Year 2022 to raise awareness of the danger, said Heckel.
- The hunter was advised to clean their equipment thoroughly after a hunt near the electric fence.
- The European Union has expressed concern about the outbreak of African Swine Fever in Rheinland-Pfalz and is providing support to prevent its spread.
- In Bingen, a seminar was organized by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute to educate farmers on the symptoms and precautions for African Swine Fever.
- The Rhine river serves as a natural barrier, making it harder for the African Swine Fever virus to spread to other regions, according to experts at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute in Koblenz.
- The BMU (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety) has provided additional funding to reinforce the disease control measures in the affected areas.
- Wild boar populations in Alzey-Worms and Mainz-Bingen districts have been under surveillance using drones, aiming to detect any signs of African Swine Fever.
- In Tod, a village near Guntersblum, farmers are carefully monitoring their pigs to ensure no signs of the disease are present.
- Local restaurants in Rhens have been advised to remove wild boar from their menus to avoid any potential risks of spreading the virus.
- The African Swine Fever threat has led to a decline in tourism activities in the Rhine region, as many tourists cancel their plans to avoid the affected areas.
- The Association of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation in Rhineland-Palatinate has called for all members to adhere strictly to the regulations for dealing with wild boar during this crisis.
