March 23, 2021

Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic intensify wild boar hunting to combat African swine fever

Germany's Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture said the governments of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic have agreed to intensify wild boar hunts to combat African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks among wild animals, Reuters reported.

There are 845 ASF cases detected among wild boar between the German states of Brandenburg and Saxony close to the border to Poland, with no cases among farm livestock.

ASF has been confirmed in Poland since 2014 and in the Czech Republic since 2017, with ASF-infected wild animals entering into Germany from those countries. 

According to Germany's Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, hunting should be intensified to reduce the wild boar population, which will decrease the risk of spreading disease.

Julia Kloeckner, German Agriculture Minister, said fences have constructed along the border with Poland but there are more areas that require protection.

Germany has urged pork importers to agree to a regionalisation concept, where imports are only banned in regions that have confirmed ASF cases, instead of a nationwide ban. Vietnam and several other countries have agreed to this new measure.

- Reuters