July 8 (Reuters) – A case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in a wild boar in eastern Germany, the country’s authorities said on Wednesday.
The case, which was detected in the state of Brandenburg within the ASF protection corridor bordering Poland in the Uckermark district, is the first case detected in wild boars in the area for more than a year, the state’s agriculture ministry said in a statement.
A further official suspected case is currently being examined, authorities said, adding that they assume the virus was introduced by migrating wild boars from infected areas in Poland.
The Uckermark district has immediately stepped up all necessary control measures, authorities said.
African swine fever is not harmful to humans but spreads rapidly among pigs and wild boar.
The last officially confirmed case in the state of Brandenburg was confirmed in the Uckermark district in May last year.
(Reporting by Linda Pasquini; Editing by Toby Chopra)
