African swine fever has now also reached domestic pigs in Germany.
The first cases have occurred in Brandenburg near the border with Poland.
Potsdam / Neisse-Malxetal - The long-feared disaster has occurred: In Brandenburg, the highly infectious African swine fever has spread to domestic pigs for the first time in Germany. The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut confirmed the virus suspicion in an organic farm with 200 animals in the southeast of Cottbus and a mini-farm with two animals in Letschin north of Frankfurt (Oder), as the Brandenburg Ministry of Consumer Protection announced on Friday. The two animals at the private owner have already been killed. The 200 pigs on the organic farm are expected to follow over the weekend.
The state government wants to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from affecting other populations.
"We are the outpost for all of Western Europe," said Consumer Protection Minister Ursula Nonnemacher.
"It is important to prevent the ASP from spreading further west." Protection and surveillance zones are to be set up around the two farms affected.
"We are now clarifying how the entry was made." So far, the assessment of experts has been that infected wild boars from Poland had passed the Oder and Neisse rivers.
There is another suspicion for four domestic pigs near the small farm in Letschin.
African swine fever: companies fear export losses
Brandenburg fears drastic disadvantages for pig farmers.
"It is to be expected that not only the export opportunities for pig farming in Germany will be restricted again," said State Secretary for Agriculture Silvia Bender.
The European neighbors could react nervously.
“We assume that the price of pork will fall again.” It has only just stabilized at 1.50 euros per kilogram after 1.20 euros at the beginning of the year.
The interest group of pig farmers in Germany demanded a clear signal from domestic buyers.
"An at least stable price level is now the imperative and correct signal to the German pig farmers," it said in a press release.
African swine fever: So far, only wild boars have been affected
The virus has been rampant in Germany for almost a year. So far, only wild boars have been affected. According to the Brandenburg Ministry of Consumer Protection, around 1270 cases have been detected in the state alone. Swine fever is harmless to humans. For pigs, however, the highly contagious virus is usually incurable and fatal. There is no vaccination. Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony have built a fence around 670 kilometers long on the border with Poland to protect them. A second fence is being planned in Brandenburg.
Farmers' representatives called for better control of the disease.
"We have to state that the measures taken, as well as their coordination, are insufficient," said the President of the Westphalian-Lippian Agricultural Association, Hubertus Beringmeier.
Measures such as disinfection and compulsory stable housing must be strictly observed.
Brandenburg called for support for the pig farmers and sees Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner * responsible.
Companies that temporarily give up their animal husbandry should receive funding, said State Secretary Bender.
She criticized: "The Federal Minister has rejected additional support
options,
found not to be necessary."
(Dpa) * Merkur.de is part of IPPEN.MEDIA.
