Successful measures: African swine fever defeated in Dresden!

Successful measures: African swine fever defeated in Dresden!

In recent weeks there has been good news in the Dresden city area regarding the fight against *African swine fever* (ASF). After intensive measures to contain the disease, no new cases of infection were detected, indicating the success of previous efforts. As the city administration announced in a recent announcement, the wildlife protection fences installed in the north of Dresden will be dismantled.

The dismantling measures focus in particular on the fences that were strategically erected on Bundesstraße 6/Bautzner Landstraße between Rossendorf, Weißig and Bühlau and between the Dresden-Nord motorway triangle and Weixdorf. The area between Liegau-Augustusbad and Grünberg was also affected by the protective fences. The dismantling will take place gradually over the coming weeks and will involve certain traffic restrictions, but taking ecological and practical aspects into account.

Background on African swine fever

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that only affects domestic and wild pigs, but is completely harmless to humans. It almost always leads to the death of the infected animals. The virus has been spreading in Europe since 2014, with exceptional cases also in Germany, including in Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Between 2021 and 2023 there were outbreaks in several federal states. There are currently strict precautionary measures in place in both Germany and neighboring countries, which are updated regularly.

“We are implementing extensive preventative measures to further contain the epidemic,” explains the city administration. These measures include the search for fallen game and increased hunting of wild boars. In addition, property owners and residents should immediately report dead wild boars to the veterinary office, which can be reached on 0351-4887551 or via email at veterinaeramt@dresden.de.

Costs and ongoing measures

The dismantling of the wildlife protection fences will cost around 230,000 euros and will be borne by the Free State of Saxony. However, to ensure continued protection, ongoing monitoring and prevention measures remain in place to detect any new infections at an early stage.

The *Friedrich Loeffler Institute* offers comprehensive information about ASF. Weekly updates on the spread of the disease can be found on their website. This institution's map of Europe shows that cases reported since January 1, 2021 are documented in Eastern Europe. Red dots represent domestic pig farms, while blue dots indicate wild boars. The current situation and case numbers from Germany can also be read there. Those interested can find necessary information about restriction areas in the map “Indicative map of EU ASF zoning as per Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605”.

Cooperation with neighboring countries to combat ASF is a central element of the measures. The early detection of introductions plays a crucial role in ensuring control of animal diseases. Information and educational measures are being further intensified by the *Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture*.

It remains to be hoped that the successes in the fight against ASF will continue and that local farmers and hunters can continue their valuable work without unnecessary restrictions.

For further information on ASF and its control, the websites of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture are available. The information from dresden.de also offers valuable insights into the local situation.