Breakthrough in the fight against African swine fever in Görlitz!

Breakthrough in the fight against African swine fever in Görlitz!

African swine fever (ASF) has been a dominant issue for hunting and agriculture in Saxony for years. There is good news from the Görlitz region: on June 30, 2025, the last case of ASF in this district was officially declared no longer active. This represents a crucial milestone in the fight against the disease, as the Görlitz district administration emphasizes. The last infection was detected in January 2023 in a young wild boar in Königswartha in the Bautzen district, and the region has been on alert since then.

Currently, six cases in the Bautzen district are still considered “active”. However, the exclusion zones and the protective fence along the Neisse remain in place because there are high-risk areas in Poland. In total, almost 1,500 wild boars with the ASF virus were found in the Görlitz district in the last five years and over 5,000 dead animals were recovered. Despite these alarming figures, the situation is currently stable and, fortunately, the virus has not spread to domestic pigs in Saxony, which eases the situation somewhat.

Ongoing monitoring measures

The Saxon Ministry of Social Affairs emphasizes that violence and control continue to have top priority. Monitoring of all wild boars found dead or shot in the region will therefore continue. Measures such as the use of drones and carcass detection dogs are used to closely monitor the situation. The risk of a resurgence of the disease remains and it is important to be vigilant as the virus can be introduced into other areas across the Polish border.

Wild boar hunting continues to keep the population in check and minimize the risk of ASF spreading. Hunters in North Rhine-Westphalia use night vision devices under certain conditions to make wild boar hunting more effective. Since February 2020, they have been allowed to use night vision attachments and attachments, but only for hunting purposes, which is a good deal for many.

Lessons from the past

ASF is a highly contagious viral infection that only affects wild and domestic pigs. People are not at risk. The virus has been spreading rapidly in Europe since 2014, with Germany particularly affected by African swine fever. In recent years there have been outbreaks in several federal states, including Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. The first cases in kept pigs were detected between 2021 and 2023. Containment measures such as exclusion zones and movement restrictions are still necessary.

The responsible federal states are working closely with the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) to combat the disease. Public relations and education for hunters, farmers and travelers have the highest priority in order to continually prevent the virus from being introduced into Germany. Cooperation with neighboring countries is one of the cornerstones of successful disease control.

In summary, it can be said that the situation in Saxony is showing encouraging progress, but the region remains on guard. The fight against African swine fever continues to require attention and coordinated efforts from all stakeholders. Follow the latest developments on ASP and stay informed!

For further information on current interventions and regulations relating to African swine fever, visit the website MDR, Hunting Association and BMEL.