2021 July 16 Friday
Two explosions in Brandenburg
Swine flu affects domestic pigs
African swine flu has been prevalent in this country for a year, but so far only in wild boars. Farmers already feared that the epidemic would now spread to livestock for the first time. Surveillance zones have been set up around the two farms – the animals are being killed.
In Germany, African swine flu first spread to domestic pigs in livestock. Laboratories have found the virus on an organic farm with about 200 pigs in the Brandenburg district of Spree-Nice and in a small holder with two animals in the Marquich-Otterland district in the same state. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Brandenburg Ministry of Health and Consumer Protection.
This means that cases of domestic swine in districts near the Polish border have already been affected by African swine flu in wild boar. Security zones and surveillance zones are now being set up around the two companies. All the animals in the two flocks will be killed and destroyed.
“It is important now to quickly find out the cause of the influx of pig people, so we know which way the virus has taken,” said Minister of State Ursula Nonmaker. “The fact that the cases were diagnosed quickly shows that animal disease monitoring is working.”
Incurable and deadly virus
The virus has been circulating in Germany for almost a year, but so far only wild boars have been infected. According to the ministry, about 1270 cases have been identified in Brandenburg alone. Swine flu is harmless to humans. However, in the case of pigs, the highly contagious virus is usually incurable and dangerous. There is no vaccine yet.
Farmers and ranchers have long feared that the disease could spread from wild animals to farm pigs. The epidemic spread to Germany via Eastern Europe. So Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony built 670 km of ASP security fences to Poland and Eastern Europe. A second fence is planned. “In order to prevent further outbreaks in domestic pig farming, especially on small farms, strict organic conservation measures must be followed,” he appealed to farmers.