Kirchzarten (dpa / lsw) – Because the animal epidemic cancer plague has broken out again in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, the authorities are extending the ban on entry to the upper reaches of the Brugga. The rules, which are already in force for the lower reaches and are now being extended, initially apply until the end of June, as the regional council in Freiburg announced on Wednesday. Even dogs are not allowed to bathe in the river and its tributaries.
In September numerous dead and dying jackdaw crabs infected with crayfish plague were found between two cancer barriers. Experts later determined that the disease had spread to the upper reaches, where individual dead animals were found.
“Unfortunately, the positive trend in the development of the jackdaw crayfish population determined last year was canceled out by the renewed outbreak of crayfish plague,” explained Regina Biss from the nature conservation department. “Therefore there is still a very high risk of the further spread of the epidemic to upstream sections of the Brugga and its tributaries.” The regional council assumes that people did not stick to the locks and that the disease was able to spread.
According to the information, the fungus-like crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci originates from the immigrated crayfish and endangers the protected and very rare jackdaw crayfish. In native crayfish, infection is fatal, and there is no effective treatment or vaccination. The disease is harmless to humans.
The crayfish plague is transmitted via so-called spores. This could happen, for example, via objects that have come into contact with contaminated water, such as rubber boots, landing nets and traps. They could also be introduced into a body of water on the wet fur of dogs or the feathers of waterfowl.
The authorities in southern Baden have been trying in various ways to contain the crayfish plague since it broke out in March 2019.
