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African swine fever (ASF) continues to be detected in wild boars in eastern Germany, although not many cases have been confirmed in recent days. An alleged ASF hotspot discovered by a drone last week appears to have disappeared.
There have been fewer reports of new ASF findings in the past week than before. Last week, Saturday, October 11th, 10 cases were found in one day – but it has remained relatively quiet since then. After that day, only 5 new cases were reported, one in the northern zone in Märkisch-Oderland and 4 in the southern zone, including parts of the Spree-Neisse and Oder-Spree districts.
A wild boar with her litter. – Photo: Jan Vullings
Carcasses near the side of the inner zone
Recent reports show that 2 of the ‘new’ dead wild boars were found near the border of the inner south zone at Neuzelle. When tracking geolocation data shared by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), the locations even appear to be out of the zone. However, a spokesman for the state of Brandenburg pointed out Pig progress that this happened exactly within this zone, which is why the markings were placed there.
After all, not an ASF hotspot?
Positive sounds come from the northern core zone. Last week, Pig progress reported on a drone search on an island in the Oder, during which investigators discovered an “ASF hotspot” with numerous sick and dead wild boars. At the time, the search parties did not want to move close to ensure that the apparently sick animals would not run away and the virus could be spread.
However, new drone flights allegedly showed that the animals had disappeared anyway. Hunting magazine Experience the hunt wrote: “During further control flights over the island no more carcasses were to be seen. Then the original material was examined again with a wildlife biologist and would have come to the conclusion that the animals – contrary to fears – must have slept and would not die. The new footage would also have shown live animals. All in all, it is unclear whether the wild boars are infected with ASF at all. “
ASF meets Covid-19
The ASF situation is currently also Covid-19. Due to ASP-related export restrictions to countries outside the EU, the demand for German pigs is not as high as usual. In addition, the 2nd wave of Covid-19 infections reached the European continent, with the consequence of infections of the staff of slaughterhouses, e.g. B. in the state of Lower Saxony.
The Weidemark slaughterhouse in Sögel even had to be temporarily closed and the Vion slaughterhouse in Emstek, where the slaughter capacity was reduced. The Lower Saxony Agriculture Minister Barbara Otte-Kinast estimated last week that 120,000 pigs a week could not be slaughtered.
A “white zone†on the border to stop ASF
Germany plans to work with so-called “white zones†or zones of 5 km around the two inner zones. This would be fenced in both inside and outside with a 1.20 m fence. The construction of these fences has already started – it is expected to take a few weeks to complete. Once the fences are in place, the intent is to shoot all game within the fences to create a boar-free corridor. A similar approach has been used in both Belgium and the Czech Republic.
In connection with white zones, German agricultural term Top agriculture reported that Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Kl̦ckner spoke to her Polish counterparts in order to build an effective wild boar barrier on the Polish border with Germany, which complements the one in Germany. Germany has even offered to pay for it Рthe Poles are said to have hesitated so far.
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