According to data from state authorities, the German animal disease information system (TSIS), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Hesse has reported 2,087 wild boar deaths due to ASF as of mid-May 2025. In contrast, Rhineland-Palatinate recorded 74 deaths, and Baden-Württemberg reported 12. The virus, first detected in the Gross-Gerau district, has spread south, recently reaching the outskirts of Mannheim, covering a 65 km area. Last week, cases emerged in the Odenwaldkreis district, indicating a slight eastward movement.
Several pig farms in the region have also been affected. In Hesse, eight farms were infected in July 2024, and a small zoo reported cases in November 2024. Rhineland-Palatinate identified an infected backyard farm in August 2024, while Baden-Württemberg reported a single backyard farm outbreak in May 2022, unrelated to the current affected area.
A representative from the Hesse state authority stated: “The spread of ASF in our region requires ongoing monitoring and coordinated efforts to manage its impact on both wild and domestic animal populations.”
The outbreaks around Frankfurt-am-Main are distinct from those in eastern Germany, where Saxony and Brandenburg are addressing ASF in their wild boar populations near the Polish border, where the virus also persists. The situation underscores the need for continued vigilance and management strategies to control the spread of ASF in Germany’s wildlife and farming sectors.
