5 new swine fever cases found in German boars

Five new cases of African swine fever were found in German boars on Tuesday, September 15, authorities said, raising concerns of a prolonged economic hit to a meat industry already battered by the coronavirus. 

Regional authorities in the eastern state of Brandenburg said tests showed that 4 dead boars and 1 sick one – which was put down – were infected with the virus.

African swine fever is deadly among wild boars and domestic pigs, but not harmful to humans. 

All 5 boars were found in Neuzelle, near the Germany-Poland border, less than a week after Germany’s first case was confirmed nearby in another wild boar.

The new cases are another setback for Germany’s pork industry, already battered by a string of coronavirus outbreaks in abattoirs that led to temporary shutdowns.

Confirmation of swine fever in Germany means its pork can temporarily no longer be certified for export to non-European Union nations, although sales to other EU nations may continue.

China, Japan, and South Korea, alongside Brazil and Argentina, have already said they will suspend German pork imports.

Billions of euros could be lost if suspensions continue in the export-dependent industry, according to the German Farmers’ Association.

Germany is Europe’s largest producer of pork, slaughtering more than 55 million pigs in 2019 according to official statistics. – Rappler.com