Agriculture: Farmers fear outbreak of African swine fever

If the plague reaches Germany, it would be disastrous for pig farmers, because there is no remedy. Outbreaks already exist in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Agriculture: Farmers fear outbreak of African swine fever

Farmers fear an outbreak of African swine fever in Germany. "The plague is coming closer," said general secretary of German Farmers ' Association, Bernhard Krüsken, of Süddeutsche Zeitung. For some years now, epidemic has spread across Russia and Baltics towards western Europe.

The virus-induced disease is plaguing domestic and wild boars. According to Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut for Animal Health, re is no remedy for animal disease: re are no medications, and preventive vaccination is not possible. If animals are killed in a barn, whole herd must be slaughtered. But for humans, African swine fever is harmless.

The consequences of an outbreak would be immense, warned Krüsken: pathogen is spreading in Germany, threatening an "economically catastrophic scenario". Export countries no longer have pork, and in Germany prices fell drastically. According to Krüsken, possible damages for German agriculture are "at two to three billion euros per year". If costs for Disease control and entire food industry are to be added, cost of a "double-digit billion" will be quickly landed.

The association fears a new crisis of existence for many companies. "If a new one came after crisis that had just been overcome, a large number of companies would certainly have to give up."

Following recent cases of infection in Zlín south of Prague in Czech Republic and Warsaw region in Poland, Federal Ministry also speaks of a "high infection pressure". The Farmers ' Association refore calls for a more stringent fight against epidemic. "We must protect ourselves better from a introduction," said Krüsken of Süddeutsche Zeitung. "So far re has been too little on federal and state level."

Above all, wild boar stock must be reduced with more intensive hunting. Thus, hunters should be motivated with bonuses to shoot more wild boars. Wild boars are considered an important transmission route.

Date Of Update: 09 January 2018, 12:03
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