ASF Germany: Wild boar victims top 1,000 cases

Apr 27, 2021

The number of wild boar that have fallen victim to African Swine Fever virus (ASFv) in Germany has exceeded 1,000. In an update from the German authorities the count is now at 1,016.

The first outbreak of the virus in wild boar took place in September 2020 in Spree-Neisse district, which is directly adjacent to the Polish border. Ever since it has spread to 4 zones in 6 districts, located in 2 states, Brandenburg and Saxony. Table 1 shows where all the cases are have been found so far.

Fighting ASF outbreaks with fences
Germany has been trying to fight the outbreaks by creating permanent fences along the border rivers Oder and Neisse, which separates Germany from Poland. In addition, around the infected zones, Germany is creating so-called white zones in which all wild boar will be shot. That way the virus cannot escape.

Last week, Germany was promised € 9 million by the European Union. This money will for instance be used in Brandenburg and Saxony states to cover the costs of construction of the permanent fences.

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Video: What It Takes to Stop African Swine Fever - Dr. Jishu Shi

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jishu Shi, Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Kansas State University, discusses African swine fever prevention and vaccine development. He explains why ASF differs from classical swine fever and swine influenza, how the disease threatens trade and pork production, why immunization safety remains a critical hurdle, and what producers can do now to reduce the risk of introduction. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Before a safe and efficacious vaccine for ASF can be commercialized, what we really have is prevention."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jishu Shi is Professor of Vaccine Immunology and the Dr. Wayne & Hilda Appleton Endowed Professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He directs the Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation and the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health. A veterinarian and vaccine immunologist, Dr. Shi has focused on vaccines for pigs and has worked on African swine fever vaccine development, control, diagnostics, and international training since 2018. Learn more from Dr. Jishu Shi on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.