African swine fever on German farm near border

African swine fever (ASF) was detected on a pig farm in the German state of Lower Saxony. It Ministry of Agriculture van Lower Saxony confirmed this early in the afternoon on Saturday. The affected fattening pig and sow farm is located in Emsbüren, which is only 15 to 20 kilometers from the border with the Netherlands. The Producers' Organization Pig Farming (POV) calls on all Dutch pig farms and related businesses to take precautions and observe hygiene.

The AVO virus has been definitively determined from the tests carried out by the German Friedrich-Löffler-Institut (FLI). With this observation, the ASF virus has jumped several hundred kilometers in one fell swoop. It had previously been found mainly on the Polish-German border. The affected farm is a sow farm with 280 sows and approximately 1.500 piglets. The contamination has major consequences for German pig farming in the area.

A quarantine zone of 10 kilometers has been set up around the company. There are 296 pig farms in this area, where a total of approximately 195.000 pigs are kept. A transport ban applies in this zone and all companies are tested for the presence of the virus. The animals on the affected farm itself will be culled tomorrow (Sunday 3 July).

Hard blow for pig farmers
An investigation into the contact farms of the affected pig farm has now been launched. The government shuts down an infection via an infected wild boar. It is suspected that the virus entered through the feed or another supplier or on-farm. According to Brigitte Otte-Kinast, the agriculture minister of Lower Saxony, it was only a matter of time before AVP reached the state. "This is a hard blow to pig farmers in our country. We have, however, prepared intensively for a possible outbreak in recent years."

She calls on the population not to engage in 'epidemic tourism'. The minister emphasizes that the ASF virus can remain contagious for a long time in the environment and can be transmitted through certain meat products, but also through contaminated feed, vehicles, clothing or tools. "It is therefore essential to reduce the risk of spreading the pathogen."

The POV reports that it has already had consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture on Saturday morning. A crisis staff led by the ministry is being set up, the organization reports. The tracing of companies and movements has already started. An administrative consultation with all Dutch stakeholders will follow on Monday, the POV said. "For now it is important that all possible precautions are observed. Observe all hygiene measures and make sure that means of transport are clean and disinfected. Double R&D is mandatory for means of transport returning from Germany. Also pay close attention to the risks of the import of loose raw materials for animal feed.", let the POV know.

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