African swine fever: Gießen district warns of vigilance!

African swine fever: Gießen district warns of vigilance!

The Gießen district has not yet been affected by African swine fever (ASF), although the disease is spreading in neighboring regions such as southern Hesse. This highly contagious viral infection, which is almost always fatal for wild boars and their domesticated counterparts, could have serious effects on animal husbandry and hunting, which is why the district administration is calling for vigilance.

Several cases of ASF have been documented in Hesse since June. By the end of September, a total of 168 wild boars and eight domestic pigs tested positive for the virus in southern Hesse. While the Giessen district is currently not affected, the administration sees a need for action to inform relevant actors and the population in a timely manner about preventative measures. “The risk of ASF being introduced into the Giessen district is currently no higher than in previous years,” explained a spokesman for the district administration.

Prevention measures and awareness raising

To keep the situation under control, the district veterinary office has started taking various initiatives to create awareness. This includes informing hunters, forestry employees, the police and municipalities about the necessary steps if the plague is detected.

Hunters who are authorized to hunt in the Gießen district receive special sampling sets from the veterinary office. These are intended to be used when dead wild boars are found. Samples from such finds are sent to the Hessian State Laboratory (LHL) for examination. According to the district spokesman, this practice and the associated commitment of hunters is crucial in order to quickly identify potential outbreaks and prevent the spread of the virus.

When asked whether swine fever could have an impact on local hunters, Dieter Mackenrodt, chairman of the “Hubertus” Gießen hunting club, explained that he currently sees no further effects. Mackenrodt, who is a member of a group of experts in the ministry, emphasizes that the virus still seems “far away” for his group and hopes it stays that way.

The spread of ASF cannot be transmitted to humans, but human behavior can contribute to its spread. Improper disposal of food that may contain the virus or transmission of the virus through shoes and vehicles are possible routes of transmission. This underlines the responsibility of each individual, especially when going on excursions into nature.

Current developments in southern Hesse

In southern Hesse, active work is being done to restrict the movement of wild boars and break chains of infection. To this end, extensive measures were taken, including the construction of permanent and electric fences along important traffic routes. The Gießen local branch of the Technical Relief Agency (THW) recently provided support by transporting fencing material from Brandenburg to southern Hesse to relieve the burden on local authorities.

In addition, a special focus is placed on reducing wild boar populations. Relaxation in hunting and the use of so-called sow traps, which allow the targeted removal of entire packs, are intended to help prevent the disease from spreading to unaffected areas. Only traps without metal mesh are used to minimize the risk of injury to the animals.

The authorities are doing everything they can to get the communicable disease under control and continue to urge the population to be vigilant. Particular attention is paid to areas where wild boar are common. Given the potential threat posed by ASF, it remains important to follow hygiene and behavioral rules to prevent the virus from being introduced into the Giessen district. Further information is in the report on www.giessener-anzeiger.de to find.