Germany: ASF confirmed in wild boar in the Uckermark district after a year

African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in wild boar in the Uckermark district for the first time in over a year. The National Reference Laboratory at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has confirmed two official suspected cases. Both locations are within the existing restricted zone II (at-risk area) of the Uckermark district, in the immediate vicinity of the German-Polish border south of Schwedt/Oder near Stützkow/Neu Galow, and thus within the ASF protection corridor. The last officially confirmed case in the state of Brandenburg was in the Uckermark on May 14, 2025.

The head of the state crisis team for combating ASF, State Secretary Dr. Stephan Nickisch, stated: “Our ASF control measures are effective. Both cases were found within the fully fenced protective corridor. Due to the proximity of the locations to the infected areas in Poland on the German-Polish border, we currently assume the disease was introduced by migrating wild boar from infected areas in Poland. Epidemiological investigations are underway. We have always been aware that a new outbreak must be expected at any time. The disease pressure remains high. The control measures implemented in the ASF-affected districts have proven effective and will continue to be consistently applied. Crucially, however, ASF protective fences must not be damaged, and their gates must remain closed.”

The Uckermark district has immediately intensified all necessary control measures. The state's animal disease control service is on site to provide support. To determine the exact extent of the current outbreak, an intensified, large-scale search for dead wild boar is being conducted using cadaver dogs and drone technology around the locations where carcasses have been found. Furthermore, increased hunting and the legally mandated removal of wild boar have been ordered. Pig farmers in the affected region are urged to further strengthen biosecurity measures on their farms.