A Tough Battle Against African Swine Fever Endures
Prolonged battle looms in the pursuit of African swine fever eradication - Overcoming Swine Fever Could Be a Lengthy Process
Breaking news shook far and wide. Farmers and officials were in a frenzy. On June 15 of last year, the first case of the deadly African Swine Fever was detected in Hesse, Germany. The outcome: farmers had to slaughter their herds. Miles of fences were constructed to halt the disease's spread, and the ongoing infections among pigs have far-reaching consequences. "Tragically, we forecast years instead of months," Marie-Claire von Spee, spokesperson for the Hessian farmers' association, told us.
In response, containment zones were established to govern farmers' actions, hunters, and even residents in the area. Shortly after, the virus was detected in household pig herds in the district of Groß-Gerau. Thousands of animals were terminated as a result. The path of how the virus made its way to Hesse remains unclear.
Costs surpassing 20 million euros
The Hessian Ministry of Agriculture has spent over 20 million euros on materials, like fences, alone by the end of May 2025, according to their statements. Extras incurred by the affected districts and personnel expenses are not included in this figure. "Approximately 280 kilometers of permanent fence and approximately 300 kilometers of mobile electric fence were built, the latter of which is currently being dismantled," the ministry revealed. The federal government is lobbying to share the expenses as Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Brandenburg, and Saxony are also battling the disease.
Farmers Abandon Pig Farming
Certain restrictions have been lifted in specific regions, yet farmers are feeling the financial pinch. Von Spee explained, "The pig farmers affected by the containment zone 3 were particularly impacted, and many have since left pig farming."
Within the now-lifted containment zone containing confirmed cases among pig farmers, the strictest regulations were implemented: no money was received at the slaughterhouses, and uninsured operations were forced to take on the costs without any income. Meanwhile, in containment zone 2, marketing complications have subsided, but the financial losses remain substantial.
Thousands of dead wild boars discovered
"More than 2,000 wild boars have been eliminated by the invading virus," said Markus Stifter, spokesperson for the state hunting association. These animals tested positive. To date, over 5,000 carcasses or remains have been found, including bones. Cadaver dogs are still being used to locate deceased or infected animals.
Only if no infected pig is found for a year can the restrictions be lifted. "This is already a heavy burden on the hunters," said Stifter. Initially, there was a hunting ban in some regions. Now, many pigs have to be hunted as their numbers have multiplied. Unfortunately, "Nothing can leave today, it's only for self-consumption," stated Stifter. Alternatively, the hunted pigs are disposed of.
Entire populations must be eliminated
"We are no longer engaging in routine hunting but fighting this disease," explained Stifter. A significant portion of the pigs from zone 2 are not utilized. "We must eliminate the disease if the wild boar population also diminishes." In certain locations, the entire population must be exterminated.
In hunting, hunters argue that wild boars would not return to the location if shooting occurred there. "The sow is smart," Stifter tells us. They would sense the hunting pressure and avoid that area. According to the ministry, since the resumption of hunting in mid-March, over 2,400 wild boars have been culled in the two restricted zones.
A shock to hunters was the extent of the spread. "We didn't anticipate it to be this extensive," Stifter said. The first positively tested animal was discovered south of Rüsselsheim on a road. Now, vast parts of southern Hesse and beyond, including Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, are affected.
Hunters express concern about further spread. The main worry is that new entries into the domestic pig populations can occur during the summer season, as has occurred in other regions for unknown reasons. "It can continue to spread," Stifter said. In other regions, this has been ongoing for five years. There is also a risk of secondary entry, for example, via truck drivers – possibly from abroad.
"They've been running out of energy," he said about the cooperating authorities. "If something else happens somewhere else, that would be the worst-case scenario." Eventually, resources like testers or veterinary offices might be depleted.
Has the peak been reached?
Currently, infected wild boars continue to be detected in the core area, according to the ministry. However, the population has already been significantly reduced. "The number of cases seems to have surpassed the peak."
In so-called white zones, which are completely enclosed by a fence, all animals are removed. "To eradicate African Swine Fever, after the establishment of white zones, all surviving wild boars must also be removed in the core area," the ministry said. This is because not all carcasses of deceased, infected pigs are likely to be found, and the virus is highly resistant.
Keywords:- African Swine Fever- Animal disease- Pigs- Hesse- Hunters- Virus- Crisis mode- Baden-Württemberg- Hunting- Rhineland-Palatinate- Wild boar- Wiesbaden- Friedrichsdorf- Groß-Gerau- BMELV- Brandenburg- Restricted zone
Additional Insights:- The African Swine Fever outbreak in Hesse, Germany, has persisted since mid-2024 and continues at an elevated state. The situation is particularly challenging in Hesse compared to neighboring states, with more than 2,000 wild boar deaths attributed to ASF as of mid-May 2025[2][4]. The outbreak is largely concentrated near Frankfurt-am-Main and surrounding areas[2].- Historically, ASF outbreaks in wild boar populations can last for years, especially if environmental and management conditions allow the virus to persist[1]. However, in other German regions like Brandenburg and Saxony, collective efforts have led to a noticeable reduction in cases and the lifting of some restriction zones[1]. In Hesse, however, with the ongoing pace and extent of the outbreak, the duration might extend for months or even longer unless containment efforts intensify and prove effective.- In other European countries like Poland and Hungary, ASF outbreaks have persisted for several years and have resulted in significant economic losses due to the destruction of pig herds, decreased consumer demand, and stricter trade restrictions[3].- Some scientists and policymakers argue that an eradication strategy, although expensive, may be more feasible and sustainable in the long run than a control strategy, which could allow the virus to continue circulating within the wildlife population indefinitely[5].
- The Commission, in the midst of the ongoing African Swine Fever crisis, could consider implementing measures to support scientific research aimed at finding a solution to the disease, particularly focusing on medical-conditions related to African Swine Fever and understanding its impact on health-and-wellness.
- As the African Swine Fever outbreak persists in Hesse, public health officials might benefit from adopting strategies typically used in the context of the European Year for the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, to raise awareness about the disease and promote safe environmental practices for both farmers and the general public.
