Swine fever barrier successfully set up.
The Siegen-Wittgenstein district in Germany has taken significant steps to control the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in its wild boar population. The latest measures include the establishment of mobile and permanent fencing to contain wild boar movement and prevent the virus from spreading further.
The fencing, spanning a length of 21 kilometers, was constructed in a swift 14 days. The fence is considered a crucial step in containing the ASF, aiming to restrict animal movement and create restricted zones. Seven wild boars have tested positive for ASF in the district, prompting these containment efforts.
To enhance early detection and rapid response, drones and specially trained tracking dogs are being actively used in the broader region around the border with North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. This deployment helps reduce the risk of ASF spreading further.
Surveillance teams are also on the lookout for infected or dead wild boars, facilitating quick carcass removal to minimize virus transmission. The focus is on inner zones with stricter restrictions, containing pig farms at high risk (54 farms with 6,500 pigs in the inner zone around the outbreak area), and buffer zones with more farms under surveillance (94 farms with 16,000 pigs).
Collaborative actions are being taken with neighbouring states like Hesse, which is also enhancing its border protection with similar fencing and surveillance measures, including mobile decontamination stations.
The ASF strain currently circulating in North Rhine-Westphalia, including Siegen-Wittgenstein, is genetically linked to one previously found in Calabria, Italy, indicating multiple independent introductions rather than direct spread from eastern Germany.
An intensive search for additional wild boar carcasses is ongoing. Photos of the fence can be found on District Administrator Andreas Müller's Facebook page. Further results regarding the disease in the district are still pending.
[1] District of Siegen-Wittgenstein press release [2] Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture press release [3] Federal Office for Agriculture and Food press release
- [, 'health-and-wellness', 'environmental-science'] In an attempt to control the spread of African Swine Fever and maintain the overall health of the ecosystem, the Siegen-Wittgenstein district is also considering the impact of the virus on the wild boar population as a crucial aspect of environmental science.
- [, 'science', 'medical-conditions'] As part of the collaborative efforts to combat African Swine Fever, scientists and medical professionals are working diligently to understand the disease, develop effective treatments, and research preventive measures for this severe medical-condition affecting wild boars and farm pigs in the surrounding region.
