No danger to consumers due to African swine fever

Animal disease: consumers are at no risk from African swine fever

Many people are worried that the African swine fever (ASP), which is currently rampant in Eastern Europe, is also coming to Germany in the near future. The highly contagious disease is usually fatal for pigs. However, it does not represent a health hazard for humans. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) draws attention to this.

African swine fever could be introduced to Germany

The African-born African swine fever (ASP), originally from Africa, crossed the EU border several years ago. Currently it is rife in different countries of Eastern Europe. Also in this country there is a high risk for the introduction of the disease. Consumers need not worry though. Because the pathogen is according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) not transferable to humans.

The African swine fever that is currently rampant in Eastern Europe could also spread in Germany. But consumers do not have to worry about their health. The pathogen is not transferable to humans. (Image: Kadmy / fotolia.com)

No health hazard for humans

The African swine fever (ASP) that is currently rampant in Eastern Europe could soon also spread in Germany.

For humans, however, the disease poses no health risk: "The pathogen of the ASP is not transferable to humans," explains Professor. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a press release.

"Neither direct contact with sick animals nor the consumption of food derived from infected domestic or wild boars pose a health risk."

In the past, ASP warned again and again about animal souvenirs.

For example, some years ago, it was pointed out that no pork from Russia or Ukraine should be imported.

Various transmission paths

The causative agent of ASP is a virus that infests wild and domestic pigs and that leads to a serious, often fatal disease of the animals. The pathogen is transmitted via direct contact, excretions of infected animals or ticks.

The ASP virus is native to infected wild animals in African countries. But even in southern Europe, there are always outbreaks. Since 2007, the pathogen spread from Georgia via Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to the northwest.

In the Baltic States since 2014 ASP cases have been recorded in wild boars and outbreaks in domestic swine. In addition, the virus was detected in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Always prepare meat hygienically

The pathogen is extremely stable and can remain infectious in food for several months.

Therefore, when non-heated food or unheated food leftovers derived from infected animals are fed to non-infected animals, the virus can be spread to previously ASP-free regions and thus also to the domestic pig population.

"In non-cooked pork products (such as domestic or wild boar salami / ham), the ASP's virus remains stable for a long time," writes the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) in a statement.

"By feeding or improper disposal of appropriate products, such as discarding residues at rest areas, wild boars can become infected with the pathogen," the experts continue.

Although the ASP virus poses neither a danger nor a risk to humans, domestic and wild boar meat should always be prepared hygienically like any other raw meat, since it can also contain other pathogens, the BfR recommends.

According to the experts, it should be kept refrigerated and cooked separately from other foods before cooking. When heating, a temperature of 70 degrees or higher should be reached inside the meat for at least two minutes. (Ad)