Stay vigilant for African Swine Fever

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kristopher Worcester, Kisling Non-Commissioned Officer Academy director of resources, takes a blood sample for a wild boar he killed outside Kaiserslautern, Germany, Oct. 2, 2018. In order to stay ahead of the African Swine Fever Virus, hunters are required to submit blood and tissue samples of their kills to the Kaiserslautern Forestry Department to ensure they test negative for ASFV. (Courtesy photo by Nathan Waters)

Stay vigilant for African Swine Fever

U.S. Air Force Maj. Nathan Waters, 603rd Air Operations Center cyberspace warfare operations chief, waits in a tree stand while hunting outside Kaiserslautern, Germany, Oct. 2, 2018. Because scientists found boar infected with African Swine Fever in Belgium, the Forestry Departments in Germany loosened regulations regarding boar hunting in an effort to stay ahead of the virus should it come into Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bass)

Stay vigilant for African Swine Fever

U.S. Air Force Maj. Nathan Waters, 603rd Air Operations Center cyberspace warfare operations chief, points out a tree marked by a wild boar outside of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Oct. 2, 2018. Boar will roll in mud, then rub their bodies against the tree to clean themselves. The Kaiserslautern Forestry Department loosened hunting restrictions on boar to prevent African Swine Fever from entering the domestic pig population here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bass)

Stay vigilant for African Swine Fever

Published Oct. 5, 2018
By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bass
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Scientists recently found wild boar, in Belgium roughly 37 miles from the German border, which tested positive for a deadly illness, African Swine Fever.

The virus, which is only transmitted between pigs and their wild relatives, poses no risk to humans, but is 100 percent fatal to swine.

Seeing as Germany is the European Union’s leading supplier and exporter of pork and pork products, this virus poses an economic threat.

According to a U.S. European Command directive issued in May of this year, the virus can be carried on contaminated equipment vehicles, animal products, clothing, gear, or other materials.

The virus, which can survive on carcasses for several weeks, has the potential to cause damage to the German economy. In fact, the last outbreak in Eastern Europe caused several billion euros in losses.

“ASFV is a big problem for pig farmers,” said Major Nathan Waters, 603 Air Operations Center cyberspace warfare operations chief. “So much so that the Kaiserslautern Forestry Department has loosened the regulations regarding the taking of boar.”

Waters, an avid hunter, said the department has a plan to handle the virus should it invade German soil.

“Right now we can take almost any pig,” said Waters. “We’re also allowed to use green spot lights during dark hours of hunting. But within an hour of the kill we have to take it to the testing office so they can send samples off to see if it has ASFV.”

Culling the infected population is the most effective way to handle an outbreak of ASFV. Romanians culled thousands of pigs during the 2014 outbreak.

So far, there are only two cases of ASFV discovered in Belgium. For more information regarding ASFV and German hunting regulations, contact the Kaiserslautern Rod and Gun club at: 0631-536-7274