Swine fever in Hesse: Dead wild boars and strict rules alert!

Swine fever in Hesse: Dead wild boars and strict rules alert!

Groß-Gerau, Deutschland - The African swine plague (ASP) continues to spread in Hesse and ensures alarm mood! More and more dead wild boars are being discovered and the situation remains tense. The Ministry of Agriculture warns: "The epidemic situation is still considered dynamic." New, positively tested wild boar cadavers are found almost every day. Experts from other regions show that the fight against this plague can take years, which could extend the restrictions for farmers and the population.

alarming numbers in South Hesse

In October, the ASP in South Hesse reached its previous climax with 121 newly discovered wild boar cadavians. The State Hunting Association urges the population to adhere to the protection requirements. In order to stop the spread of the virus, three restricted zones were set up, which affect large parts of southern Hesse as well as adjacent regions in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. Strict rules apply in the inner zones: leaving the paths is prohibited and dead wild boars must be reported immediately. The virus, which is harmless to humans, can be spread over shoe soles - a serious threat to the pigs!

pig farms in the crisis

The effects on farmers are devastating! Over 3,500 domestic pigs had to be cried in the Groß-Gerau district. Despite financial help from the animal disease fund, the economic situation remains tense. In the inner restricted zone III, the idea of a task of pig farming is widespread. Many farmers hand over healthy pigs to the slaughterhouses for free without receiving compensation. "The pig farmers in the region feel abandoned," explains Marie-Claire von Spee from the farmers' association. The fear of further spreading the ASP and the uncertainty about future loosening of the restrictions put a strain on the industry.