First cases of African swine fever (ASF) were reported in Georgia in 2007. Subsequently, the disease spread into the neighboring countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and to the Russian Federation (RF). By the end of 2012, 426 outbreaks had been recorded both in the domestic pig sector and in the wild boar population in the European part of the RF (FAO EMPRES, 2013). In 2014 and 2015 additional outbreaks were recorded in this region. Starting in 2012 until 2014, the disease spread to the west and north with incursions of ASF into the Ukraine (backyard pigs and wild boar) and Belarus (backyard pigs, situation in wild boar unknown) and meanwhile also into the EU member states Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia. Since 2014, numerous ASF infected wild boars as well as ASF infected domestic pigs (commercial and backyard) have been found in these four member states.
In view of the wide distribution of ASF within the territory of the RF in the domestic pig sector and the wild boar population, and the incursions into the neighboring countries Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia, the risk of introduction of ASF into the wild boar population of Germany by transport vehicles and travelers has been evaluated.
