BMEL warns of African swine fever and asks for help

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The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) warns of African swine fever (ASP), which is not dangerous for humans but endangers the pig population, and asks (long-distance) bus companies to help prevent the introduction of the disease into Germany.

The ASF has not yet occurred in Germany, but for some years now it has led to large losses in domestic pig stocks and wild boars in various European countries - for example in Belgium in September 2018 and currently in Poland.

The spread of the disease occurs, for example, via food such as pork products or sausages, which are taken away in the affected countries and then not disposed of properly. In this context, the BMEL asks that (long-distance) bus travellers from affected Member States be informed in a preventive manner.

For this purpose, the BMEL provides leaflets in various languages, which member companies can also obtain in printed form from the RDA Internationaler Bustouristik Verband e. V. if interested:


Leaflet „East route“ in German, English, Polish, Czech and Russian
Leaflet „West route“ in German, English, French and Flemish

The information provided to travellers serves to prevent the introduction of ASF into Germany and to keep the animals healthy in this country.

Update from 10.12.2019:
Following a new assessment of the disease situation on the spot, the restricted area in Poland now extends to the German border. The EU has classified the affected areas according to risk level (part 1-4). In part 3 (mainly Romania and Bulgaria) and 4 (Sardinia) the wild boar population and pig farms are affected, in part 2 only the wild boar population. In part 1 the risk results from a certain proximity to the infected wild boar population. As a result of the re-evaluation, areas in Poland and Lithuania have been moved from Part 1 to Part 2.
The classification results in different risk management measures for the affected countries.

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