German ASF cases rise as suspected cluster found on island

The number of confirmed cases of African swine fever in wild boar in Germany has risen to 65 as a potentially significant outbreak has been discovered on an island.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) officially confirmed 10 further cases in wild boars in Brandenburg today, all within the original core area - eight were found in the Oder-Spree district and two in the Spree-Neisse district.

In terms of total confirmed cases, there have now been 51 in the Oder-Spree district, 12 in the Spree-Neisse and two in the second, separate area, Märkisch-Oderland, about 60km away in the north of the state and very close to the Polish border.

As the search for wild boar in the state continues, a drone discovered a number of potentially infected animal on the Oder island in Kustrin-Kietz in the second core area of around 45sq.km. The footage, which can be viewed here (footage from RBB 24), showed around 17 dead animals and 30 or so still alive, some of which appear to be infected, according to German media reports.

With the help of experts from FLI, the aim is to isolate the group to prevent the further spread of the virus, German pig industry body ISN reports. However, while the group will continue to be observed by drone, the intention is not to disturb them.

"Intervening would be too dangerous because sick animals are very aggressive," the district's spokesman Thomas Behrendt, told news website Markische Oderzeitung (MOZ).

While the number of infections is growing in the wild boar population in Brandenberg, the virus has not affected domestic pig populations in Germany.

You can view Pig Progress’ latest map detailing the location of infections in Brandenburg HERE