January 17, 2022

North Macedonia reports first ASF case

African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in North Macedonia for the first time.

Initial clinical signs were detected by the owner of a backyard farm with 18 susceptible animals, of which there were three cases located in Dramce (Delčevo), in the east of the country, on December 29, 2021.

The first dead animals were reported on January 1, 2022. On January 5, 2022, blood, swabs and tissue samples were taken for laboratory examination to detect the presence of ASF. Positive results were obtained on January 6, 2022, by real-time PCR at the laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje.

The affected farm was categorised as medium risk in terms of the application of biosecurity measures.

According to epidemiological investigation, one of the possible modes of entry of the disease is contact with wild boar. On January 7, the food and veterinary agency issued the decision on protection and control measures, establishing a three-kilometer protection zone and a ten-kilometer surveillance zone, and the measures to be applied on the farm and in the distinct zones.

On January 10, a stamping-out policy was implemented on all pig farms in the three-kilometer zone.

- OIE