Zagreb, 31 July 2025 (Hina/MIA) -- More cases of anthrax were reported Thursday in Croatia, after veterinary authorities confirmed 44 out of 72 processed samples of dead livestock tested positive for the bacterial disease.

The samples were taken from dead animals found on nine farms in Vrlika, two farms in Civljane, three farms in Biskupija, four farms in Drniš, eight farms in Ružić, one farm in Kijevo and one farm in Knin.

As of July 31, state veterinarians have received a total of 92 samples (79 head of cattle, five goats, six sheep, one donkey and one fawn), the Croatian Veterinary Institute said in a press release.

"Of the processed samples, 44 tested positive (38 head of cattle, two goats, three sheep and one fawn), including four that tested positive today (three head of cattle from Ružić and one sheep from Biskupija). A total of 19 samples tested negative," the institute said.

Twenty samples were deemed unsuitable for bacteriological testing due to advanced decay. Four samples, received on July 30, are still being processed.

The first confirmed case of anthrax in Croatia was reported on July 18, in the Municipality of Vrlika in the Šibenik-Knin County. The initial suspicion of an anthrax outbreak in the Vrlika village of Maovice was reported on July 7.

A designated anthrax control zone was established on July 21, with strict restrictions on the movement and feeding of livestock, and vaccination efforts began.

Croatian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić met Wednesday with livestock farmers in Vrlika and announced financial support measures to help mitigate the damage caused by the outbreak. vm/mr