Germany: ASF confirmed in domestic pig populations in Emsland and Uckermark

The suspicion of African swine fever (ASF) in a domestic pig herd in the Emsland district of Lower Saxony and in another domestic pig herd in the Uckermark district (Brandenburg) was confirmed by the reference laboratory of the Friedrich-Leffler Institute (FLI).

The affected farm in Lower Saxony is a pig farm with 280 sows and about 1,500 piglets in the municipality of Emsbüren in the south of the Emsland district. The reason for the penetration is still completely unknown and is now being intensively investigated. Countermeasures are being taken. An FLI expert team will also be deployed on site to investigate the causes. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Lower Saxony, no link has yet been found between the ASF outbreak in Emsland and the ASF outbreak in Uckermark.

As the Minister of Agriculture of Lower Saxony rightly pointed out, it was to be expected that new cases of ASF would occur from time to time. Now it happened in the processing area - and now it is important that the damage in the affected area is as small as possible. The fact that domestic pigs and not wild boars are currently affected in Emsland gives at least grounds for hope that the virus can be dealt with quickly and effectively, similar to the most recent cases in Baden-Württemberg and earlier in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The occurrence of ASF in the domestic pig population can be much better controlled and therefore more targeted than in the wild boar population. It is now critical that the announced control measures are carried out consistently. That's why it's good that long-established companies in Lower Saxony with the appropriate equipment and experience will professionally and effectively take over the fight against diseases. The fact that a cause investigation has also been initiated and is being carefully carried out with the support of the FLI is also critical in order to be able to avoid further infections.