It may only be a matter of time before African swine fever reaches Germany. Pigs are already infected in Poland to prevent the spread of the plague. Brandenburg now wants to build fences on the Polish border near Guben (Spree-Neisse).
The 90-centimeter-high game fences are to be used along the Neisse and Oder, depending on the risk situation. These electric and scented fences can be quickly assembled and disassembled and can always be erected where there is a particularly high risk that infected animals from the Polish side will cross the border.
The costs for the construction of the fences are borne by the state, the districts make the decision about the exact course. The fences cost a total of around 160,000 euros. According to the Ministry of Consumer Protection, the focus is on the districts of Spree-Neisse, Oder-Spree and the city of Frankfurt (Oder).
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The risk of the disease being brought in by wild boars from western Poland to Germany is greater. Brandenburg's Minister of Agriculture Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) also wants to be involved in the construction of the mobile wild fences for prevention on Friday.
No case of African swine fever (ASP) is known to date in Germany. In more than 50 cases, however, this has so far been detected in dead wild boar in western Poland. The disease is not a health hazard for humans. However, evidence of ASP in Germany is likely to result in massive restrictions on pork exports to non-EU countries.
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Fences have also been purchased in other federal states but have not yet been set up - for example in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt. Denmark has completed a boar fence along the border with Germany - but a stationary one.
Berlin is also preparing for a possible outbreak of swine fever - especially the eastern city regions towards Poland. "Protective fences are being procured across Berlin, preparations are being made across all districts," said a spokesman for the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district office. The outskirts are closest to Poland. Since leftovers promote the spread of the disease, which is not dangerous for humans, information leaflets are also distributed at petrol stations and restaurants.
For months, experts have feared that the swine fever virus will spread to the domestic pig population in Europe. In China, this has already led to rising prices for pork, which can also be felt in Germany.
African swine fever is a viral infection that only affects wild and domestic pigs. Affected animals suffer from fever, weakness and breathing problems. The disease usually leads to animal death within seven to ten days.