Taiwan has confirmed its first case of African swine fever, signaling a serious threat to the nation’s livestock industry. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that pigs at a farm in Taichung tested positive, raising concerns about rapid disease spread.
Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih said Taiwan would report the case to the World Organization for Animal Health. Additionally, authorities will notify major trading partners and suspend all pork exports to prevent the virus from spreading internationally.
The Veterinary Research Institute analyzed samples collected on Tuesday from dead pigs. They confirmed African swine fever, prompting immediate containment actions across Taichung.
Lin Nien-nung, head of the Animal Quarantine Division, said that 40 related hog farms and one rendering plant had tested negative so far. Moreover, authorities disinfected all trucks connected to the infected farm to limit further transmission.
The agency will inspect five slaughterhouses visited by a truck delivering pigs to the Daan Meat Market. Meanwhile, local governments have already checked 4,165 of the country’s 5,439 hog farms. Officials expect inspections to finish by noon today.
To ensure domestic pork supply, the ministry asked the Taiwan Frozen Meat Packers Association to distribute frozen pork to retailers. Taiwan’s 60,000-tonne national pork reserve can meet domestic demand for about a month. In addition, the 170,000-tonne chicken stockpile could provide alternative protein for up to two months.
The Ministry of Environment launched a fuel subsidy program to help hog farms transport kitchen waste safely. Farms with a reutilization certificate can receive NT$500 to NT$1,167 per day depending on size.
Authorities also confirmed that a dead pig on a beach in Lienchiang County carried African swine fever. They buried the carcass, disinfected the area, and inspected all three local farms, finding no further deaths. Lin said the pig likely drifted from across the Taiwan Strait, noting nearby garbage with simplified Chinese text.
As an added precaution, the agriculture ministry banned transporting pork, perishable food, and processed products from Lienchiang County for seven days. Officials stressed that controlling African swine fever remains the top priority.
Taiwanese authorities continue to monitor the outbreak closely and are taking urgent steps to protect the nation’s hog industry.
