Record of ASF infections in Germany

A total of 219 ASF infections were confirmed in June. That is almost double the number of boars found in May (127). In addition, boars were found in several places outside already cordoned off zones.

The majority of infected boars in June were found in the province of Brandenburg (145). The other animals in the province of Saxony (74). Since the first confirmed case of ASF in Germany last September, 1.444 cases have now been identified. Commercially kept pigs are still free of the animal disease.

Second fence in planning
The chairman of the crisis team responsible for combating ASF has announced that he wants to install a second fence in the state of Brandenburg on the border with Poland. The fence that has already been installed appears to be insufficient to stop pigs crossing the border with Poland. New infected animals are found again and again, which indicates that the animals know how to find new routes past the fences. Placing a second fence should create a kind of corridor of 500 to 1.000 meters wide within which all wild boars are shot.

Companies infected again in Poland
In Poland, several infections were detected on pig farms in the last week. Although there are continuous infections in wild boars, only 2 companies have been infected so far this year. However, in recent weeks ASF was detected at 6 small companies. The companies kept between 12 and 149 pigs. It is not clear what the source of the infections is. Outbreaks on pig farms increase the risk that the virus will ultimately be spread by humans through the food chain.

Meanwhile, Polish pig farmers have taken to the streets to protest against the measures taken by the government. They do not agree with the culling of all pigs kept within a 1-km zone around an established infection. However, the Polish government sees this as a necessary measure in the fight against the virus.