Authorities in Germany have confirmed a new case of African swine fever (ASF) in farm pigs in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The case was detected on a pig breeding farm in Greifswald, according to the state’s agriculture ministry.
Since the first ASF case was confirmed in wild animals in September 2020, China and several other major pork buyers have banned imports of German pig meat. The presence of ASF in farm animals complicates Germany’s efforts to lift these export bans. Analysts note that the discovery of ASF on farms will further hinder these efforts, with China’s ban remaining in force.
ASF is not dangerous to humans but is fatal to pigs. The disease leads to significant disruptions in global pork trade, as many countries impose bans on pork from affected regions.
The spread of ASF in Germany has been linked to wild boar migrating from Poland into the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony, where thousands of cases have been reported. The German government has been working to contain and eradicate ASF by reducing the wild boar population. However, the large number of wild boar and their extensive roaming behavior have made containment efforts challenging.
The latest confirmed case highlights the ongoing struggle to control ASF in Germany and the broader implications for the global pork industry.
