Rabbit disease kills over 1,500 in North Macedonia's Kumanovo region

More than 1,500 rabbits have died from a fast‑spreading disease, locally known as lija, after the first case was recorded in Kumanovo at the end of January. The outbreak has since been confirmed in nearby villages such as Mlado Nagoriçane, Sopot, Kamenicë, Dellçevë and the Sveti Nikollë region.

Veterinarians, led by Zoran Peshevski of the Kumanovo Veterinary Station, warn that mortality rates reach 70‑80 % and that the disease threatens the entire livestock sector. They have called for strict bio‑security measures, including a mandatory 21‑day quarantine for newly purchased rabbits, tighter movement controls and consideration of a regional vaccination program. Livestock markets for rabbits and goats have been closed and breeding on infected farms has been suspended for six months.