Nearly 12,000 pigs will be killed in Croatia as it was identified African plague on a large farm in the eastern part of the country.
Authorities in Croatia announced Monday (22.09.2025) that thousands of pigs will be slaughtered to limit the African plague (ASF)which is an extremely contagious and deadly virus.
Although it is harmless to humans, it is a viral haemorrhagic disease with a mortality rate approaching 100% for pigs and wild boars.
No vaccine has yet been approved in the European Unionwhose Croatia is a member. The spread of the disease can stop exports of meat and its detection leads to immediate preventive killing.
Caused ‘99% of human factor’
“The (euthanasia) started by national supervisors, in collaboration with the farm owner” where the epidemic was found, Croatia’s agricultural minister told Monday. David Scar. According to state television, about 10,000 pigs will be slaughtered on this farm on Shock (eastern part of the country) and about 1,600 on another farm in the same area, known for its many pigs.
The way the virus appeared on this state -of -the -art farm is not yet known, but according to the minister, it was “99% from a human factor”.
Authorities have imposed surveillance on 54 farms with more than 1,000 animals and have tightened border checks, the minister added.
“The fact is that the virus has spread and it will certainly be necessary to take some more radical measures,” the interior minister said, David Bozinovic, adding that the army may also grow.
Croatia had more than 873,000 pigs on its farms in 2024 and exported more than 285,600 pigsworth 57 million euros, according to the National Statistical Service.