Germany: New ASF outbreak in North Rhine-Westphalia
African swine fever (ASF) is continuing to spread among wild boar in North Rhine-Westphalia. This week, the disease was detected for the first time in the Hochsauerland district in a dead piglet. The Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia announced this in a press release. The infected piglet was found near Störmecke, close to Schmallenberg, within the existing restricted zone II, which encompasses parts of the districts of Olpe, Siegen-Wittgenstein, and Hochsauerland. So far, no other ASF-positive wild boar have been found near the location of the discovery (as of February 26). A thorough search for further dead wild boar is currently underway at the site.
Since the first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in North Rhine-Westphalia near Kirchhundem in June 2025, protective measures to contain the disease have been in place through general decrees issued by the districts of Olpe, Hochsauerlandkreis, and Siegen-Wittgenstein. Currently, the Hochsauerlandkreis district, the State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVE), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection are coordinating on possible expansions of the protection zones.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen appealed to everyone to strictly adhere to the protective measures outlined in the general decrees issued by the Hochsauerland district and the districts of Olpe and Siegen-Wittgenstein, and to behave sensibly and responsibly in nature. Furthermore, she urged that anyone found dead animals should immediately inform the responsible district veterinary office, which will then arrange for the immediate removal of the animals.
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