NEDIMOVIC: African swine fever appears in Mladenovac area

(Branislav Nedimovic) The test results from the EU Reference Laboratory in Madrid verified that African swine fever appeared in Serbia near Mladenovac and the regulatory authorities have already taken preventive measures to stop the virus from spreading, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy said on Tuesday.

– After two years, during which Serbia has successfully held out against the violent advance of the swine fever in the world and in the region, swine fever has been confirmed at three points, three villages near Mladenovac. Today we adopted a decision on declaring the contaminated area around Mladenovac within 3km of the contaminated points.

African swine fever affects only pigs and wild boars and there is no known vaccine for prevention. The virus is not harmful to humans who may consume pork in registered facilities under the scrutiny of the veterinary inspection,

Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine in Belgrade has determined a hotspot in Rabrovac village. Based on that, 15 days ago, when the first suspicions of virus arose, all preventive steps had been taken so as to prevent the virus from spreading further. Pigs were euthanized in placed where the virus was confirmed while the government compensated the owners which it will continue to do in case of disease spreading.

Pigs are not allowed to be kept in the open to prevent further infection. Explicit instructions have been prepared for pig breeders, hunters as well as notices on border crossings, Every instance or suspicion of the virus should immediately be reported to a veterinarian or a veterinary inspector.

We remind that the import ban of pork from Serbia is temporary and that countries decide on such measures when there is a suspicion of contamination or the contamination has already been declared.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Branislav Nedimovic signed an order on introducing the principle of regionalization in Serbia on Tuesday, August 13, which means that the contaminated area is off-limits for pig and pork trade while other virus-free areas are available for trade.

After the 40-day monitoring process, Serbia will be free to export its products to EU and other countries in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health directives.

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije

Naučni institut za veterinarstvo Srbije

Ministry of Agriculture

Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine Belgrade

Branislav Nedimovic

Rabrovac village

African swine fever

import ban on meat from Serbia

African swine fever in Serbia

pig export from Serbia

pork export