First Case of African Swine Fever Confirmed in Slovakia

July 28, 2019 — 

This week officials in Slovakia confirmed the country's first case of African swine fever, hitting a backyard farm in Strážne, Trebišov, Kosice. Jozef Bires, director and chief veterinary officer for the Slovakia Ministry of Agriculture reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health. [National Hog Farmer 26 July 2019]

Clinical laboratory testing confirmed one pig was infected. All four in the herd were culled per government regulations. The local veterinary and food administration has ordered a 3-kilometer protective zone and 10-kilometer surveillance zone be set up around the outbreak.

The outbreak happened only 470 meters from the Hungarian border. According to the latest Swine Health Information Center Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report, Hungary has reported 31 new cases in the north and northeast of the country, including one cluster of 24 cases in late May.