Taiwan Confirms First African Swine Fever Outbreak, Launches Urgent Nationwide Containment Measures - LivestockTrend

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Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Taiwan Confirms First African Swine Fever Outbreak, Launches Urgent Nationwide Containment Measures

Taiwan has confirmed its first-ever case of African swine fever, sparking swift containment measures and the culling of nearly 200 pigs in a race to prevent the virus from spreading. The outbreak was detected on a farm in Taichung after samples from dead pigs tested positive earlier this week, prompting authorities to launch emergency biosecurity operations.
Source:porkbusiness

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture moved quickly to stamp out the disease, overseeing the culling of 195 pigs, disinfecting the premises, and establishing a three-kilometre control zone around the affected area. A temporary five-day ban on pig movements and slaughtering was also imposed nationwide to curb any potential spread.

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih said Taiwan will isolate the virus strain for confirmation before officially reporting it to the World Organization of Animal Health. “We can’t afford to wait. The highest standards of prevention and control must be applied immediately,” he said, emphasising the urgency of the response.

African swine fever is a highly contagious disease that devastates pig populations but poses no risk to humans. Chen noted that Taiwan maintains strict bans on the importation of meat products without inspection and warned that illegal pork imports remain the most likely source of the outbreak, with contaminated food waste suspected of introducing the virus to farms.

The discovery has sent shockwaves through Taiwan’s livestock sector, which had so far managed to stay free of the virus even as it swept through neighbouring countries. In 2019, outbreaks in China and Vietnam led to the loss of millions of pigs, while South Korea remains the only Asian country currently battling active cases.

Authorities say they are determined to prevent a similar crisis. With containment measures underway and surveillance intensified, Taiwan is racing against time to protect its pig industry from one of the most devastating animal diseases in modern agriculture.

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