Five years of African swine fever: Southern Brandenburg breathes a sigh of relief!

Five years of African swine fever: Southern Brandenburg breathes a sigh of relief!

Five years after the first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Germany, the trace of the disease remains visible. The first case was registered in the Spree-Neiße district in 2020 and since then the situation in Brandenburg has changed significantly. This reports RBB24. The last confirmed case of an ASF infection dates back over a year and a half, and it was not until March 2025 that the last core area of ​​the epidemic in Brandenburg was lifted. From now on, the region can present itself as free of ASF cases, as confirmed by the official veterinarian Helfried Kröber.

Efforts to contain ASF have resulted in the construction of over 200 kilometers of protective fences around affected areas, particularly along the Polish border. Despite the abolition of the last core area, some exclusion zones and protective measures remain in place. This is intended to prevent the virus from being reintroduced, which poses a particular risk due to the high number of wild boar in the neighboring areas.

Economic consequences for farmers

The economic excesses of the ASP should not be underestimated. Farmer Bernd Starik, who was directly affected by the disease, suffered heavy losses: a full 85 percent of his pig population was lost after the outbreak. As a result of the comprehensive measures, an export ban was imposed, forcing Starik to lay off 25 employees. To protect his remaining animals, he now relies on strict biosecurity measures to ensure there is no contact with other pigs or contaminated environments.

African swine fever is a notifiable animal disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs. The symptoms of ASF are serious and include loss of movement and eating, fever, diarrhea and vomiting. The infection often leads to high losses in the affected stocks, as current surveys show. In total, 19 domestic pig herds and various wild boars have been affected since the virus spread in Germany, according to the information Focus on animal welfare.

Surveillance and containment measures

Monitoring wild boar populations and intensive hunting are essential measures to combat the disease. Since the outbreak, the wild boar population in southern Brandenburg has been drastically reduced - from more than 6,300 animals in 2020 to around 680 in April 2025. Over 500 kilometers of wild fences have been installed, while some fences in the north of the district are already being dismantled. The plan is to dismantle around 130 kilometers of permanent fence between Cottbus and Burg/Spreewald, although protective corridors will be retained to prevent further exchanges with Poland and Saxony.

The risk of reintroduction of ASF should not be underestimated. How FLI reported, the situation in the neighboring countries to the east is characterized by high wild boar densities and inadequate biosecurity measures. The risks of contamination through illegal disposal or brought-in hunting trophies as well as through the trade in contaminated meat remain high.

In summary, it can be said that five years after the outbreak of ASF, agriculture in Brandenburg is facing challenges that require both damage and new structures in animal husbandry. The examples of farmers like Bernd Starik show how deep the change was and what new approaches are necessary to protect pig populations and keep the animal disease under control.