January 17, 2024

Montenegro detects first ASF case

Montenegro's Ministry of Agriculture has detected African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars, marking the first recorded case of the disease in the country, SeeNews reported.

The ministry said no cases of the disease have been reported in local swine farms. The confirmation of ASF was based on findings from two wild boars discovered deceased by local hunters within the territory of the western municipality of Niksic, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ministry said that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has documented the spread of ASF among wild boars and swine across Europe since 2007. Previous cases were registered in Serbia in 2019, North Macedonia in 2022, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo last year.

The ministry called upon local swine farmers to promptly report any changes in the health condition or deaths of animals to veterinary authorities. Additionally, the ministry emphasised the importance of strictly implementing biosecurity measures on farms to prevent the potential spread of the disease.

-       SeeNews