Croatia Orders Mass Cull of Nearly 12,000 Pigs Amid African Swine Fever Outbreak

Escalating Crisis and Culling Operations

Croatian authorities have commenced a large-scale culling operation, ordering the euthanasia of nearly 12,000 pigs in the eastern part of the country due to a severe outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The majority of the culling, approximately 10,000 pigs, is taking place at the Belje Sokolovac farm in Baranja, with an additional 1,600 pigs being culled at another nearby farm in the same region.

This latest action significantly escalates the fight against the highly contagious disease. Since the initial outbreaks were reported in June 2023, Croatia has seen a total of 41,000 pigs lost to ASF. With the current culling, the overall number of affected pigs is projected to exceed 50,000, representing roughly 5% of Croatia's total pig population.

The Nature of ASF and Factors in its Spread

African swine fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease that is highly contagious and often fatal for domestic pigs and wild boars, with mortality rates approaching 100% in affected animals. Crucially, ASF poses no risk to human health, and properly prepared pork products are safe for consumption. There is currently no EU-approved vaccine or cure for the disease.

The spread of the virus in Croatia has been largely attributed to 'human factors,' including 'irresponsibility' and 'illegal activities,' according to Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić. These factors include the illegal trade of pigs and wild boars, as well as failures in biosecurity measures on farms. State Chief Inspector Andrija Mikulić reported that out of over 400 recent inspections, 104 farms were found to have irregularities in their protection measures.

Government Response and Economic Impact

In response to the escalating crisis, Croatian authorities have implemented a range of stringent measures. These include:

• Round-the-clock surveillance of farms housing more than 1,000 pigs.
• Tighter border controls, particularly with neighboring Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to curb the illegal movement of animals.
• Deployment of police escorts for veterinary inspectors in the field.
• Efforts to reduce wild boar populations, which can act as carriers of the virus.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinović has indicated that 'more radical measures' may be necessary, including the potential deployment of the military to assist in containment efforts. The Croatian government has also allocated a 7.5 million euro financial package to compensate farmers for their losses.

The outbreak has significant economic implications for Croatia's pig farming sector. Professor Ivica Kišić from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb noted that the country's self-sufficiency in pork has plummeted to between 30-35%. He warned that pork prices are expected to rise and that rebuilding the pig population could take up to ten years if the virus reaches reproductive centers, leading to potentially incalculable financial losses.