African swine fever prompts tighter controls in Serbia and Croatia

African swine fever sheep pox biosecurity Serbia Croatia

Serbian authorities confirmed a new outbreak of sheep and goat pox in the village of Nosoljine, Raška district. A total of 127 animals – 67 sheep and 60 lambs – were euthanized, and the Ministry of Agriculture said the virus most likely entered via smuggling routes from Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.

The African swine fever (ASF) crisis continues in Serbia, with more than 29 000 pigs culled this year across multiple hotspots. The government has set up a national crisis staff, stepped up surveillance of wild boar, and pledged compensation for farmers’ feed and fodder losses while urging strict bio‑security compliance.

In Croatia, Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić blamed non‑compliance with bio‑security measures as the main driver of ASF spread. He announced intensified inspections of pig farms, increased culling of wild boar, and warned that wild boar are the primary virus reservoir, urging decontamination of visitors to Papuk Nature Park.

Separately, three men were caught poaching a trophy deer inside a zone under ASF‑related restrictions near Vladimirci. Police recovered hunting weapons and the illegally killed animal, highlighting that unauthorized entry into infected areas can jeopardise disease‑control efforts.

Entities: African swine fever · African swine fever virus · Caprine pox virus · Croatia · David Vlajčić · Dragan Glamočić · Ministry of Agriculture of Serbia · Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (Serbia) · Nosoljine · Raška municipality · Serbia · Serbian Veterinary Service

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The caprine pox virus likely entered Serbia via smuggling routes through Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. (155c6f6c-cf6b-461c-90cb-b16e632270bd)
[● 2 SOURCES] A caprine pox outbreak was confirmed in Nosoljin, Raška municipality, affecting 67 sheep and 60 lambs (127 animals) which were euthanized. (9f617baf-cbf9-478a-a06c-89b2659e6b5b)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management will continue heightened controls in ASF‑affected zones. (5ca8af43-e91c-4862-9007-ab078670e40b)
[● 2 SOURCES] Three men from Belgrade were caught poaching in the Vladimiri hunting area, which is under ASF restrictions; illegal firearms and a trophy deer were seized. (fcf4a7db-74de-4f99-8298-b456a944e1ff)
[● 3 SOURCES] Deputy Prime Minister David Vlajčić said non‑compliance with biosafety measures is the main cause of ASF spread and announced reinforced veterinary inspections and hunter teams. (5ca8af43-e91c-4862-9007-ab078670e40b)
[● 2 SOURCES] The state will compensate direct damages to feed and fodder producers but not lost profit from the disease outbreaks. (155c6f6c-cf6b-461c-90cb-b16e632270bd)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Around 30,000 pigs have been culled in Serbia this year due to African swine fever. (e1ecfdb3-faaa-417b-a7b4-95c891dc6088)
[● 2 SOURCES] The government allocated 231 million liters of diesel fuel for farmers and fishers this year. (5ca8af43-e91c-4862-9007-ab078670e40b)
[● 2 SOURCES] Croatian Deputy Prime Minister David Vlajčić blamed non‑compliance with bio‑security measures as the main cause of ASF spread and announced intensified farm inspections and wild‑boar culling. (government press briefing)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture will compensate farmers for direct feed and fodder losses caused by ASF, but not for lost profit. (ministerial statement)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Serbian authorities have established a national crisis staff for African swine fever monitoring and are conducting enhanced controls on wild boar populations. (government announcement)
[● 2 SOURCES] Minister Dragan Glamočić said the capripox virus likely entered Serbia via smuggling routes from Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. (ministerial interview)