African swine fever has reached Offenbach

Since the first wild boar in Hesse tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) near Groß Gerau in mid-June, the virus-related animal disease has kept Hesse's veterinary authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock farmers and Hessen Forst on tenterhooks. Now African swine fever has moved close to Offenbach. The veterinary office is now taking the first measures to contain the serious infectious disease, which particularly affects domestic and wild pigs. A large part of the city's own hunting grounds have been declared a restricted zone I. The Lohwald forest and a large part of the hunting ground in Bieber as well as the built-up part of the city of Offenbach are still exempt from this. Hunting wild boar is expressly permitted for hunters in this exclusion zone. Furthermore, hunters should increasingly look out for dead wild animals and report them in order to determine whether cases of ASF have been recorded.

Although there are calls for increased hunting of wild boar in restricted zone I, the following restrictions apply in this zone: The conduct of driven hunts and harvest hunts is prohibited and hunting dogs must avoid contact with wild animals. The exact location of a carcass found, if possible with GPS data, is required. The Office for Veterinary Affairs and Consumer Protection of the City of Offenbach must be informed immediately. This will enable the authorities to carry out an investigation as quickly as possible and initiate appropriate measures. Hunters must ensure that every wild boar shot is properly reported and sampled. Every hunter must ensure that swabs or blood samples are taken from the wild boar shot. Every wild boar shot must be kept in its own game collection point until a negative test result is available. The required sample material can be collected from the Veterinary Office at Offenbach Town Hall, Berliner Straße 100, 10th floor, room 11.

Pig farmers must immediately inform their competent veterinary office of the number of pigs kept, changes in the herd and the number of pigs that have died. In particular, the number of sick pigs, especially those suffering from fever, must be reported. It is also necessary to isolate all pigs in order to avoid contact with wild pigs. Likewise, dead or sick animals in which African swine fever is suspected must be examined immediately by specialist personnel.

Wild boar found dead can be reported by calling 069 8065 4910 or by e-mailveterinaeramtoffenbachde and providing the GPS data.