ASF Albania: Europe’s 28th country to report the virus

Albania is the 28th country in Europe to have reported African Swine Fever, genotype II, ever since the virus entered the continent in 2007 via Georgia and Armenia.

The country recently reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Two carcasses of infected wild boar had been found in a forest in Kukës county, in the north east of the country, on February 9, 2024. As the crow flies, this is located about 15 km from the border with Kosovo and 30 km from the border with North Macedonia.

Of all countries in Eastern Europe, now only Kosovo never reported the presence of ASF, but this may be for geopolitical reasons. The country declared itself independent in 2008, and the relatively young republic is not mentioned in WOAH reports.