ASP: Education and prevention

African swine fever (ASF) causes serious, often fatal illnesses in domestic and wild pigs, but is harmless to humans.

African swine fever (ASF) causes serious, often fatal illnesses in domestic and wild pigs. However, it is not dangerous for humans. The notifiable animal disease is caused by viruses. In Europe, ASF is currently spreading more and more from east to west. There are currently no cases of ASF in Germany.

We provide an overview of the most important facts (compiled by experts from TÜV SÜD):

People are not at risk!
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the virus does not pose a health risk to humans. This also applies to the consumption of meat that comes from infected animals. "It is still prohibited to put such meat on the market," says Dr. Andreas Daxenberger, food expert at TÜV SÜD, pointing to extensive prevention and control measures to prevent the spread.

State fight
If African swine fever occurs in Germany, the control measures are regulated in the Animal Health Act and the Swine Fever Ordinance. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute developed measures against ASF among wild boars in Germany at an early stage. These measures primarily affect hunters, veterinarians and farmers. They regulate what is to be done in the event of an outbreak: If ASF occurs in a pig farm in Germany, the entire herd must be killed and safely disposed of. In addition, a restricted area is declared, which must implement special safety measures (including trade and transport bans). The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture points out an import ban on pork and pork products from the affected countries. In order to prevent the introduction of ASF and other animal diseases into the European Union, bringing meat, meat products and milk from non-EU countries is prohibited.

Protective measures by travelling consumers
Consumers can support government control measures by consistently complying with regulations on carrying food and travel provisions. Bringing sausage, meat products and dog food from non-EU countries is generally prohibited. Leftover food must be thrown away at the airport before re-entering Germany at the latest, or disposed of at the border crossing in a way that is inaccessible to animals.

Spread of African swine fever
The ASF virus occurred mainly in Africa before 2007, but then spread across Eastern Europe. It was also detected for the first time in wild boars in Belgium in 2018. Unlike classical swine fever, the African variant has not yet occurred in Germany, as already mentioned. However, the number of outbreaks in Europe has increased. In 2019, according to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, 1,911 domestic pigs were affected (mainly in Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria) and 6,361 wild boars (mainly in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Belgium). So far, 327 cases have been added in domestic and wild boars (as of January 15, 2020).

ASF transmission routes
In addition to the main transmission from animal to animal, regionally occurring tick species also play a role. The virus also reaches non-infected animals via the excretions of infected animals. Travelers over long distances are also often the carriers: The viruses can remain infectious for several months in meat and raw sausage from animals whose infection has not been detected. If such food ends up in previously unaffected regions, ASF can spread further. Specialist institutions have therefore been advising for years that food scraps should always be disposed of in such a way that wild boars cannot reach them. It has also been forbidden for decades in Germany to feed food waste to pigs or wild boars. The pathogen is extremely infectious, so ASF can also spread through objects (e.g. shoes, transport vehicles). Travelers and transporters must therefore observe special hygiene measures.

Recommendations for pet owners, hunters and veterinarians
In view of the current course of the ASF epidemic in Europe, hunters in particular are called upon to report an increased occurrence of dead game (wild boar) to the responsible authority and to have suitable samples (especially blood, lymph nodes, spleen, lungs) officially examined.