Croatia and Serbia tackle African swine fever outbreak

Croatian authorities have paid about €51 million to compensate roughly 4,400 pig farmers for losses from African swine fever (ASF). To date, 3,758 domestic pigs have been culled in the Osijek‑Baranja and Virovitica‑Podravina counties, and 99‑101 farm outbreaks have been confirmed across the country, with 184 cases recorded in wild boar. The government is strengthening bio‑security, increasing the cull of wild boar and mobilising up to 35,000 hunters to control the disease.

In Serbia, more than 29,200 pigs have died or been euthanised after the virus spread, with the main hotspots in the Srem and Mačva districts and parts of Belgrade. Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić reported 29,241 affected animals and announced stricter control measures, staff changes at the national crisis centre, and joint actions with police and veterinary services. Both countries continue to monitor new cases and enforce emergency zones to prevent further spread.