Exclusion zone set up: African swine fever discovered on the Oder!

Exclusion zone set up: African swine fever discovered on the Oder!

In an alarming development, on September 23, 2025, the district administration of Märkisch-Oderland announced the establishment of an exclusion zone in five locations on the border with Poland. This measure was taken to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF) after the disease was found in a wild boar killed near the Oder. The towns of Bleyen, Genschmar, Groß Neuendorf, Kienitz and Sophienthal are affected. Another infected wild boar was found in Kienitz in March of this year, which further increases the authorities' concerns.

ASF, which is harmless to humans, poses a significant threat to pig farming. The disease is usually fatal for pigs and often leads to death within a few days. To prevent the spread, the responsible authorities are implementing protective measures, including wildlife fences and increased hunting. These preventive measures are necessary because Brandenburg is the most affected federal state, with over 3,455 wild boars testing positive since 2020, followed by Hesse and Saxony with 2,245 and 2,399 cases respectively.

The history of the profound plague

African swine fever is a notifiable animal disease that originally comes from Africa. Since its first appearance in Europe, with the first cases in Georgia in 2007, the disease has spread rapidly. The persistence of this disease is also reflected in the data: By September 9, 2025, 8,402 ASF cases in wild boars and 20 outbreaks in kept pigs had been registered across Germany. Similar developments have been observed in countries such as Lithuania, Poland and Latvia, where the disease has also appeared in wild boars and, in some cases, domestic pigs.

In Germany the situation becomes more complicated because the wild boar density is high and biosecurity is low in the neighboring countries to the east. These factors, together with the extensive transport infrastructure, increase the risk of introducing ASF. Authorities also warn of the danger posed by contaminated material or ham and sausages that could be illegally imported into Germany. The current state of affairs makes it clear that ASF is a perceived threat to the domestic livestock industry.

Hunting protection and compensation

To help hunters control the population of wild boars in the affected areas, there are hunting bonuses. These vary depending on the federal state from 30 euros in Lower Saxony to 200 euros in Hesse. The aim of these initiatives is clear: the hunters should have a good hand in containing the spread of the disease and managing the populations.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the exclusion zones and the measures taken will have an effect and that African swine fever will not continue to spread. The animal disease is a serious challenge for agriculture and all parties involved are required to work together effectively to protect pig farming in Germany.

For further information about African swine fever and current developments, the following pages are recommended: maz-online.de, rbb24.de and fli.de.