More than 250 pigs euthanized in Slavonia

Veterinary inspectors and the State Inspectorate have presided over the euthanizing of more than 250 pigs in farms in eastern Slavonia over African swine fever concerns. Specifically, the animals euthanized came from the Jagodnjak Municipality in Osijek-Baranja County.

Measures to combat African swine fever in Croatia’s Slavonia region continue. 253 pigs from twenty farms in the Jagodnjak Municipality were euthanized on Monday. According to the Veterinary Inspectorate a large number of irregularities were uncovered at numerous farms. The State Secretary at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Ministry, Ivan Matijević: "The pig farmers themselves can contribute the most to stopping the spread of African swine fever. Throughout the implementation of the measures in Jagodnjak Municipality, for which I would like to thank the tireless efforts of the veterinary inspectors and the State Inspectorate, a high number of irregularities were registered at hog pens they visited. Simply put the farmers themselves were not adhering to legal requirements, and then obviously we have a problem."

Meanwhile, the first case of bluetongue in cattle was confirmed in the village of Maovice near Vrlica, yesterday. So far the is the only confirmed case. It was uncovered in the carcass of a cow that was being tested for anthrax. So far, there have been 27 confirmed cases of cattle dying from anthrax. Some six thousand head of livestock have been vaccinated against anthrax since the first case was registered. The head of Hrvace Municipality, Dinko Bošnjak: "I had request of the State Secretary for reinforcements so that the vaccination program can be implemented as soon as possible, because if things proceed at this pace, who knows when this will be completed. He promised me that he would activate extra personnel from the Split-Dalmatia and Šibenik-Knin counties, and I believe that the vaccination program will begin, so that we can resolve this problem as soon as possible."

Source: HRT