What it is
ASF affects domestic pigs and wild boar. It is not zoonotic: people cannot catch it through contact with animals or by eating pork. The virus can, however, remain on footwear, clothing, wheels and equipment, and in some pork products, so people can unintentionally carry it to pigs. There is no vaccine or treatment that stops an outbreak; laboratory testing confirms the diagnosis.
Why it became important
In July 2026, the Veterinary Directorate warned of higher risk in Srem, Mačva, part of the Kolubara District and Belgrade. After ASF was confirmed at the Mistral farm in Hrtkovci near Ruma, Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamočić announced the humane euthanasia of 11,000 pigs and put direct damage above EUR 1.5m. That is the minister's estimate, not a national total of losses.
Current procedure
The Veterinary Directorate publishes decisions declaring infected and threatened areas and sets measures for them. These zones can bring animal census and sampling, cleaning and disinfection, and limits on moving pigs, products and vehicles. A particular holding is governed by the wording of the decision and the veterinary service's instructions, not by the general list of higher-risk regions. An owner who suspects disease should contact the responsible veterinary service immediately and should not move animals before receiving instructions.
Why it matters
For pig holdings, the main protection is to prevent contact between domestic pigs and wild boar, clean and disinfect footwear, clothing, vehicles and equipment, and avoid feeding pigs untreated food waste. Consumers do not need to fear ASF as a human disease; the Veterinary Directorate advises buying meat from registered outlets under veterinary and inspection control.
Next open question
Status changes through new official decisions, not through a general warning: which settlements and holdings enter an infected or threatened area, for how long, and which movement restrictions are imposed or lifted. Before transporting animals or products from a risk area, check the Veterinary Directorate's current decisions and the local veterinary service's instructions.