Cancer plague is spreading in Baden-Württemberg.
© Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
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OfJulia Thielen
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A dangerous animal disease is spreading in Baden-Württemberg. Dog owners are therefore particularly affected in Freiburg at the moment.
A highly contagious animal disease continues to rage in the Black Forest. There is therefore a ban on entering a river and its side streams near Freiburg. Dog owners in particular need to exercise caution. Leisure activities and hydraulic engineering measures in the water should also be avoided, such as echo24.de* reported.
As announced by the Freiburg Regional Council, the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office has now extended a general decree to that effect up to and including December 31st. Accordingly, the Brugga and its streams in the Dreisamtal between Freiburg-Kappel and Oberried are still not allowed to be entered. The prohibition also applies in particular to dogs. Because of the risk of epidemics, they are not allowed to swim in the Brugga or in its tributaries.
Baden-Württemberg: Attention, dog owners – animal plague is spreading
The reason is the cancer plague that is still spreading in this area. Despite the first successes of the containment measures, according to the regional council, pathogens are still effective at Kappel-Neuhäuser and in the lower reaches of the Brugga. According to investigations from the spring, in which dead specimens of the very rare jackdaw crabs infected with crayfish plague were found, “unfortunately no all-clear” could be given.
The authorities have been fighting the cancer plague in Brugga since March 2019. After its outbreak, the disease had “spread rapidly” – similar to a poisonous spider in Baden-Württemberg *. Thereupon those responsible reacted immediately and introduced various measures:
- Side streams were drained to prevent the disease from spreading.
- In the upper reaches of the Brugga, a crab guard was installed to prevent infected crabs from migrating upwards.
- An entry ban was issued by the water authority at the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office.
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Cancer plague in Baden-Württemberg: animal disease is spreading
Since the animal disease has not yet been fully combated, further possible measures are now apparently being sought. Experts were already working on a solution, according to the regional council.
Until then, humans and animals must avoid the area. Unlike the hairs of a local poisonous caterpillar *, cancer plague is neither dangerous for humans nor for other animals, but dog owners in particular should still exercise caution.
Baden-Württemberg: Dogs can transmit cancer plague pathogens
Because: Dogs in particular can serve as carriers of the pathogens and unconsciously become enemies of local cancers. The crab plague spores settle in the wet fur of the four-legged friends and are thus possibly transported to the next body of water, where they can spread again. The pathogen can also adhere to clothing such as rubber boots.
The invisible danger can then quickly become doomed for the native crayfish species. The highly contagious disease is caused by a type of fungus. Crab plague spores can be introduced through any object that has come into contact with contaminated water, or through plumage or fur.
Cancer plague in Baden-Württemberg: crayfish die of disease
There is no effective treatment to save the crayfish. Infected animals die. The three native species of noble crab, jackdaw crab and stone crab are particularly affected. The disease was brought in from North America by the crab cancer. Like, for example, the tiger mosquito, which is dangerous for humans, it is an invasive species. However, the cancer has not yet been identified in the Brugga water system.
The jackdaw crabs in the Brugga are very rare anyway – now the crayfish plague is killing them too.
© Freiburg Regional Council
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The spread of the epidemic should now be contained to protect the native crayfish. But the cancer plague is treacherous: According to the regional council, only a few spores in the water are enough to “let the animal disease flare up again”.
Baden-Württemberg: Not the first time cancer plague
The good news: So far, the measures have prevented it from spreading to the Zastlerbach. This and the Krummbach including their small tributaries were therefore excluded from the general decree and are again released for use. The connecting waters from the Brugga to the Zastlerbach must, however, remain without water supply in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
It is not the first time that the invasive type of cancer has caused trouble in Baden-Württemberg. In 2019 there was also an outbreak of the animal disease in the Esslingen district. The cancer plague quickly killed 50 animals there. * echo24.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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