Four suspected outbreaks of African swine fever in Serbia


Three of the cases were detected in the Belgrade area and one in the district of Podunavski, the OIE said, citing a report from Serbia's agriculture ministry.

The first case was reported 30 July in a backyard herd in Mladenovac where one pig died and a total of 23 pigs were slaughtered and disposed of. Two cases followed in Mladenovac on 1 and 6 August, killing four pigs, and a further 29 slaughtered.

The latest case (7 August), in the town of Smederevska Palanka, suffered two deaths and a further 62 animals were slaughtered.

The suspected cases of the disease killed seven pigs in total and 114 were slaughtered. Confirmation of the ASF virus is pending PCR analysis results.

The following control measures have been applied to prevent further spread:

  • Movement control inside the country.
  • Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone.
  • Traceability.
  • Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste.
  • Stamping out.
  • Control of wildlife reservoirs.
  • Zoning.
  • Disinfection.
  • Ante and post-mortem inspections.
  • No treatment of affected animals.

African swine fever has been rapidly spreading in eastern Europe. The European Union's executive last week called the disease an "urgent challenge".