ASF Germany: Number of infected farms in the west up to 6

On both sides of the Rhine river, the number of infected wild boar continues to grow. Photo: Jan Vullings

It looks like the African Swine Fever epidemic in western Germany isn’t going to be over any time soon. Over the last week, 4 additional (smaller) farms were reported infected with the virus, one of which having 168 pigs on-site. The number of infected wild boar also keeps growing.

Ever since African Swine Fever emerged in wild boar in the state of Hesse in June this year, the virus keeps popping up in more locations. Until earlier this week, 2 farms had been found infected in the Groß-Gerau district close to the Rhine river, but the latest data by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) include detailed information about 3 additional infected farms. Various German sources, being the TSIS database as well as the state authorities in Hesse, already speak of 4 additional infected farms.

The cases all occurred in the Groß-Gerau district. Those reported by WOAH are all relatively small in size, having 16, 27 and 168 pigs on-site. The discoveries were made on 22 and 23 July. The latest discovered farm – not reported yet by WOAH – was found infected on July 25. The new outbreaks come on top of earlier known cases, including farms in Stockstadt am Rhein (1,129 pigs, 17 July) and Biebesheim am Rhein (9 pigs, 8 July).

The outbreaks bring the total in Germany since 2021 at 15 infected farms with domestic pigs.

Cases of wild boar climbing

In addition, on both sides of the Rhine river, the numbers of infected wild boar continue to grow. In Hesse state, the number of infected animals now stands at 48 according to the state authorities, having tested 264 animals. All were found in the Groß-Gerau district. In the neighbouring state of Rhineland-Palatinate, so far the number of infected wild boar is lower. It has emerged in 2 districts there, but has so far been discovered in 15 wild boar.

ASF virus has been around in Germany’s wild boar population since 2020. Until this summer, however, it only occurred in wild boar populations near the border with Poland, where the virus is pretty much endemic. This June marked the first time that the virus emerged in wild boar in western Germany.

Infected zones designed again

As a result of the outbreaks, the zonation around the outbreaks have changed, the state authorities in Hesse have confirmed. The older wider zone of roughly 100,000 ha will get the status of infected zone, whereas a new zone of 150,000 ha will encircle that zone as buffer zone.