Again after six confirmed cases of ASF in 2024. on July 2 and 3, 2025, three outbreaks of African swine fever were confirmed in facilities housing (domestic) pigs in the Vukovar-Srijem County in the municipalities of Gradiste and Stitar and in the settlement of Komletinci in the town of Otok. These parts of Croatia were already affected by this contagious desease and now are specified as protection zones and surveillance zones within restriction zone III in Vukovar-Srijem County.
Following the occurrence of the disease in the wild boar population (19 cases of African swine fever in wild boars in Vukovar-Srijem County during 2025), this is evidence of the continuous circulation of the African swine fever virus in the area, which poses a permanent threat to all pig farming.
The incidence of African swine fever is seasonal, with the disease spreading more rapidly in the summer. The extreme resistance of the pathogen in the environment, as well as the fact that the virus circulates in the wild boar population, indicate the need for increased caution in the period from July to October.
In the organization and application of biosecurity measures, the most important role is played by the farmers themselves, whose main task and responsibility is to establish correct and appropriate measures on their own facilities and to control that they are consistently applied. In addition to the application of biosecurity measures, it is crucial to observe animals on a daily basis and recognize deviations in production and their health, and then report any deviation urgently and without delay to a veterinarian. The main purpose of early reporting of changes in health and production characteristics in pig farming is to detect diseases early, to take urgent measures to suppress and prevent the spread of diseases, as well as to reduce unwanted economic consequences for producers, consumers and the economy in general.
Responsible behavior of farmers is the only effective way to prevent the introduction and spread of the African swine fever virus among pig farms.