Another Eastern European country has reported the emergence of African swine fever (ASF) within its borders. According to PigProgress, Montenegro is the 27th country in Europe to report the virus since the virus first appeared in the Caucasus region in 2008.

Montenegrin authorities reported finding 2 carcasses of infected wild boars 500m from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were found near the village of Kovaci in the Nikšić region.

In neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, the virus was first confirmed in June 2023. So far, the virus has managed to spread throughout the country. Authorities found 47 infected wild boars, but many more on smaller domestic pig farms.

The number of deaths of infected domestic pigs and those slaughtered due to the presence of ASF has increased to over 60,000. Most of these cases occurred in the far north, close to the border with Serbia.

So far, almost all Eastern European countries have reported outbreaks of African swine fever in either wild boar or its domestic population.

Only Albania has not reported an outbreak so far. Regarding neighboring Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008, official data is lacking. The relatively young republic is not mentioned in the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) reports.

Of all the countries that have experienced ASF outbreaks, only the Czech Republic and Belgium have been able to eliminate the virus.

So far, the Czech Republic has faced new outbreaks elsewhere in the country. In addition, Sweden appears to be getting its outbreaks under control fairly quickly – and there is hope that the country will be declared ASF-free in the fall of 2024. (Photo: Freepik)