[Way, aim, state and perspective of the Aujeszky's disease (AD) eradication program in North Rhine Westphalia].

In August 1991 a program to eliminate Aujeszky's disease from the whole pig herds in North Rhine Westphalia within six years was initiated. The wide area vaccination program combined with the eradicating program was so successful that most farms in North Rhine Westphalia were free of infection till February 1995, only 1% of the farms have not taken part in this program. As a consequence of the different situation of the control of the Aujeszky's disease in other states changes of the decree which has the objectives of eradicating Aujeszky's disease are planned. The changes should allow to transport pigs from herds which are not free of infection after April 1, 1995 too under certain circumstances. To keep the present eradicating success in North Rhine Westphalia special protection measures are necessary. This includes especially the decree of the state protection decree which came into effect on April 1, 1995.