Animal disease - Second case of swine fever in pigs confirmed
In Hessen, a second case of African Swine Fever has been identified in domestic pigs. According to the Agriculture Ministry, a farmer from Stockstadt (District of Groß-Gerau) reported three dead pigs to the competent authority last Wednesday. Other pigs showed symptoms of illness. The suspicion was confirmed by the laboratory of the state.
The entire herd of over 1,100 pigs at the farm must now be culled, the ministry added. The cost of culling is shared between the state and the Hessian Animal Disease Insurance. The farm also receives compensation for the culled animals.
An outbreak in a farm with nine pigs was detected in early July in Biebesheim am Rhein (District of Groß-Gerau). The first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Hessen was detected in mid-June in a wild boar in the district of Groß-Gerau. Since then, a large-scale carcass search is taking place in the region to determine a so-called core area of the incident and a restriction zone. Electrified fences along the core area are intended to prevent the spread of infected or sick animals outside.
According to the ministry, teams with specialized carcass search dogs and drones have already searched around 14,000 hectares. So far, 38 positive cases have been detected. The state is working closely with the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health.
For humans, ASF is harmless
ASF is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans through contact with the blood or carcasses of infected animals. Infection is also possible by consuming contaminated pork products. The virus can survive in sausages and ham for many months. The virus is harmless to humans. However, the disease in pigs usually runs a fatal course. There is no vaccine against ASF.
The second identified case of African Swine Fever in Hessen occurred in domestic pigs from a farm in Wiesbaden, nearby Southern Hessia. The farm is in the district of Big-Gerau, similar to where the first case was detected in a wild boar. The level of disease in the pigs is concerning, with the herd of over 1,100 needing to be culled. This animal epidemic, or Tierseuche in German, is causing a significant impact in Hesse, particularly in areas known for pig farming.
