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Croatia Intensifies Fight Against African Swine Fever as Cases Surge
Croatian authorities have ramped up measures to combat African swine fever (ASF) as the country faces a significant increase in cases among wild boars, with 380 confirmed infections reported by late October 2025.
The disease, which first appeared in Croatia in 2023, has seen a dramatic surge this year. According to the European Animal Disease Information System, Croatia recorded 221 outbreaks among wild boars by mid-November 2025, compared to just 39 during the same period last year and only 13 in all of 2023.
In response to this escalating crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced in October a comprehensive strategy that includes the complete culling of wild boars in four eastern regions: Virovitica-Podravina, Požega-Slavonia, Brod-Posavina, and Osijek-Baranja. The measure aims to create what officials call a “buffer zone” to prevent further spread of the highly contagious disease.
“By October 30, a total of 380 ASF cases in wild boars had been confirmed, including 361 in the Osijek-Baranja region, and 19 in the Vukovar-Srijem region. Among them, 169 wild boars died, while 211 cases were found in hunted animals,” the ministry told AFP in early November.
The announcement has sparked controversy on social media, with some critics questioning whether ASF cases actually exist in Croatia and challenging the scientific basis for the culling measures. One widely shared open letter authored by retired pediatrician Nada Jurinčić claimed there were “no reported cases of death of wild boars or clinical signs of disease in the free population” and called the buffer zone concept “an administrative construction without biological and epidemiological sense.”
However, experts firmly reject these claims. Dr. Lorena Jemerešić, scientific advisor and head of the Croatian Veterinary Institute, confirmed that the country employs rigorous testing protocols. “The laboratory conducts the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method, the real-time polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR,” she explained, noting the test has 97.77% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting ASF virus DNA.
Croatia’s preventive approach began years before the first case appeared. “When the virus entered Europe in 2014, and especially after the appearance of infection in Hungary (2018) and Serbia (2019), an active ASF surveillance program was launched. From 2019 to the end of 2022, a total of 17,102 wild boars were tested,” Dr. Jemerešić said.
The stakes are high for Croatia’s agricultural sector. With more than 873,000 pigs on farms as of 2024 and annual exports exceeding 285,600 animals worth approximately 57 million euros, the disease threatens a significant portion of the country’s livestock industry. ASF is known for its devastating impact, with mortality rates that can reach 100% in affected populations.
The disease, which is harmless to humans but lethal to pigs, has been reported in 69 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas since January 2022. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, it has affected more than one million domestic pigs and nearly 40,000 wild boars globally during this period.
With no authorized vaccine available in the European Union, control measures rely heavily on prevention and containment. Professor Zoran Luković from the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Agriculture explained that buffer zones are established as “ASF-free” areas where strict surveillance and biosecurity measures are implemented to prevent spread from neighboring infected zones.
The Croatian government’s approach aligns with European Commission regulations, which include movement restrictions, establishment of restricted zones, intensified monitoring, and proper carcass disposal. EU guidelines specifically mention that “the establishment of such white zones might be an effective tool for limiting the spread of the disease in the wild porcine animal population.”
While some have expressed concern about ecological impacts, experts suggest the wild boar population has grown beyond sustainable levels in recent years. “Because of abundant food, mild winters caused by climate change, and the lack of natural predators, their population has grown far beyond what is needed for ecological balance,” the Ministry of Agriculture noted.
Ivan Budinski, a senior conservation specialist from the environmental association BIOM, added that Croatia’s practice of year-round supplemental feeding has contributed to the problem: “The thousands of tons of corn used for this purpose in Croatia have caused a massive and unnatural increase in their population.”
As Croatia continues implementing its control strategy, officials emphasize that protecting the country’s pig farming industry, particularly important in the eastern Slavonian counties, remains the priority.
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14 Comments
Concerning news about the surge in African swine fever cases in Croatia. Effective disease management strategies will be crucial to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. Culling wild boars in buffer zones seems like a reasonable step, but misinformation could undermine these efforts.
Agreed, transparency and clear communication from authorities will be key to address any misinformation and ensure public cooperation with the containment measures.
Containing the spread of African swine fever in Croatia’s wild boar population is critical. While culling infected animals is a necessary step, the authorities must ensure transparent communication to address any misinformation and maintain public trust in their containment efforts.
The escalating African swine fever crisis in Croatia’s wild boar population is very concerning. Culling infected animals to establish buffer zones is an understandable step, but authorities must be proactive in addressing any misinformation that could undermine public cooperation.
This is a challenging situation for Croatia as they battle the spread of African swine fever. Culling wild boars is a drastic but potentially necessary step to create effective disease control zones. Maintaining public trust through transparent communication will be key.
The surge in ASF cases in Croatia’s wild boar population is very concerning. Culling infected animals is a necessary measure, but the authorities must also address any misinformation that could hinder their containment efforts. Consistent, science-based messaging will be crucial.
The sharp increase in ASF outbreaks among wild boars in Croatia is quite alarming. Decisive action to create buffer zones and cull infected animals is necessary, but they must be accompanied by robust biosecurity protocols and public education to be truly effective.
Absolutely, strong veterinary and wildlife management policies are critical to controlling the spread of this highly contagious disease. Monitoring the situation closely and adapting the response as needed will be crucial.
Croatia is facing a serious African swine fever outbreak in their wild boar population. Culling infected animals is a necessary measure, but the authorities must ensure transparent communication to maintain public trust and cooperation in their containment efforts.
African swine fever is a serious threat to the pork industry. Croatia’s move to cull wild boars in affected regions is an understandable step, but they’ll need to be vigilant about preventing any misinformation that could undermine public trust and cooperation.
Agreed. Transparent communication and close collaboration between authorities, farmers, and the public will be essential to successfully containing the outbreak and minimizing its economic and environmental impacts.
Croatia’s efforts to contain the African swine fever outbreak through wild boar culling are commendable, but they’ll need to be very careful in how they communicate this sensitive issue to the public. Misinformation could seriously hinder their disease management strategies.
The dramatic increase in ASF cases among wild boars in Croatia is alarming. Decisive action to cull infected animals and establish buffer zones is understandable, but the authorities must be vigilant about addressing any misinformation that could undermine public cooperation.
This is certainly a challenging situation for Croatia as they battle the surge in African swine fever cases. Culling wild boars is a drastic measure, but may be necessary to create effective disease control zones. Maintaining clear, science-based communication will be key.