Well prepared for the worst-case scenario

Veterinary office carried out fallow deer recovery exercise to prevent a possible outbreak of African swine fever

Since African swine fever broke out in Brandenburg in 2020 and subsequently in other federal states, the Jena-Saale-Holzland Veterinary and Food Monitoring Office (ZVL) has also been preparing intensively to be prepared in the event of an outbreak. For example, a fence-building exercise (2023), drone training and a search for fallen game with recovery (2024) were carried out.

In June 2025, the veterinary office hosted a multiplier training course followed by a recovery exercise. Representatives from forestry offices in the region, from agriculture, several authorized hunters and the management of the ZVL took part. After observing a trained recovery team in action during the previous year's exercise, this time the participants were asked to find the prepared fallen game themselves and recover it in compliance with all safety rules.

They were well prepared for the practical part with a specialist lecture from the Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection (TLV). Among other things, the procedure for recovering fallen game in the event of an epidemic, the necessary protective equipment, the documents to be completed and the checklist that helps with preparation and on-site processing were explained.

Then it was off to the forest near Quirla, where employees of the Jena-Holzland forestry office and the ZVL had prepared a (timber) pig for recovery.

In the event of an epidemic, a found dead wild boar that may have died from the ASF virus must be recovered in such a way that the virus cannot spread further. The recovery team must therefore put on full protective clothing - and then remove and dispose of it in such a way that no contamination occurs at any point and at no time. The place where the animal was lying in the forest and the surrounding area must be disinfected, dug up and disinfected again. The carcass is loaded onto a game tub, covered, pulled out of the forest and placed on the loading area of the waiting vehicle. At this point, the exercise in the Quirla forest ended (in an emergency, the carcass is then transported to the designated disposal site, unloaded again in protective clothing, all used materials are disposed of, the car and tires are disinfected, and finally these three Ws: car wash (vehicle), hot shower (human), washing machine (clothing).

The on-site activity showed once again how important practical training is, and where the devil can be in the detail. What if a disposable glove or the disposable overall tears? What if you want to wipe the sweat off your forehead (it quickly gets hot in overalls during physically strenuous work), but are not allowed to? What if a carcass is too big for the mountain bag, the game tub or the tarpaulin?

These and many other details were discussed during the exercise. At the end of the exercise, the participants discussed their findings and optimization options. It was confirmed that good coordination using modern technology and a large number of personnel is necessary in order to be able to act successfully in the event of an epidemic.

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© © LRA SHK

Pictures of the recovery exercise in the forest: The fallen game (a piece of tree trunk represented the dead wild boar) has to be lifted into a solid recovery bag

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© © LRA SHK

... The bag is loaded onto a game tub and pulled up the steep slope with a capstan winch.

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© © LRA SHK

... The spot where the dead "animal" was lying and the area around it is disinfected. In an emergency, the can contains milk of lime, during the exercise it was only water. (Photos: District Office (C. Bioly)

The Jena Saale-Holzland Veterinary and Food Monitoring Office would like to thank all participants and everyone who supported the preparation and execution of the exercise.

Background: African swine fever is a viral infection that leads to high losses in wild boar and domestic pigs. The viral disease is not contagious for humans. In the event of an outbreak of African swine fever, wild boar that have died from it (fallen game) must be found and recovered as quickly as possible in order to break the chain of infection. The search for and recovery of animal carcasses is an important pillar of disease control.