Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – Agriculture in North Rhine-Westphalia is stepping up its precautionary measures against African swine fever (ASF), which has not yet broken out in NRW. Chambers and associations agreed, among other things, to carry out more blood tests on live pigs with non-specific symptoms of the disease. There should now be regular virological tests on dead animals.
NRW Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen (CDU) welcomed the agreement. “North Rhine-Westphalia is well positioned in the fight against African swine fever – and it should remain so in the future,” she said, according to a statement on Monday.
ASF is a contagious viral disease in domestic and wild pigs that is almost always fatal and incurable. The disease can be transmitted directly from animal to animal or indirectly by humans to other areas via contaminated objects such as clothing, car tires or food and feed. However, ASF is not contagious or dangerous for humans.
The first case in Germany was confirmed in September 2020 in a wild boar in Brandenburg. Since then, outbreaks have been detected in several federal states, most recently in Brandenburg and in Emsbüren in Lower Saxony in early July.
