Germany Discovers ASF in Domestic Hogs

The virus that has decimated hog populations in China and several other nations has appeared on a farm in Germany. Reuters reports that the first cases of African Swine Fever in domestic hogs were confirmed on a pair of farms in Brandenberg, near the border with Poland. Over 1200 wild boars along the border had been found over the past year, but until Friday none had been confirmed in Germany’s domestic hog population.

Germany is Europe’s largest pork producer and the world’s third largest. However, because most hog producers are in the western and southern parts of the nation, experts predict no major impact to the German pork market. Exports outside the European Union had already been banned last year following the first positive case in a wild boar. However, Friday’s discovery could make negotiations about lifting existing bans imposed by China and other major buyers more difficult.