- Laboratory detects African swine fever in wild boar
A wild boar shot in the Rhein-Neckar district has tested positive for the African Swine Fever virus. Laboratory tests showed a high viral load, said Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk (CDU) in Stuttgart. The official confirmation by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute is expected today and is a formality. The visibly sick animal was shot by a hunter near Hemsbach in the Rhein-Neckar district, Hauk said.
Following outbreaks in neighboring states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, the animal disease has now also reached Baden-Württemberg. The viral disease, which is harmless to humans, affects domestic and wild pigs and is almost always fatal.
There is no possibility to protect pigs through vaccination against the viral disease. It can be transmitted directly from animal to animal or indirectly via contaminated objects such as clothing and shoes, as well as feed. It is also possible that the disease is introduced through carelessly discarded food remains such as a salami sandwich or a hunter's sausage.
The detection of African Swine Fever in a wild boar is a concerning development, as it brings the disease closer to our domestic pig farms. The spread of this viral disease poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild pigs, as it is almost always fatal and currently has no vaccination available.
