TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Wednesday ordered stricter border inspections and more meat testing after the country's first suspected outbreak of African swine fever at a Taichung pig farm.
Cho outlined four directives in response to the suspected case, per CNA. Authorities will carry out epidemiological investigations to confirm the cause and review possible sources, while stabilizing market supply by adjusting frozen pork releases and prioritizing school lunch programs.
He directed the establishment of a response center in Taichung to handle the situation. In addition, the government will keep the public informed with timely updates and fulfill Taiwan’s international obligations to notify the relevant organizations.
Cho stressed the government will continue safeguarding food safety to prevent public anxiety. The agriculture ministry has been instructed to propose effective measures to block the spread.
The government will re-examine every key step in epidemic prevention, especially border and anti-smuggling inspections, and increase meat product testing frequency. He demanded that all ministries take action to ensure the outbreak is contained quickly and effectively.
Taiwan was only officially recognized as free from three major swine fever diseases in May, Cho noted. Since 2018, the government has worked to block the virus through collaboration across public and private sectors, and between central and local authorities.
Earlier, the agriculture ministry reported that PCR testing on 117 dead pigs at a farm in Wuqi District returned positive for African swine fever, per UDN. However, the ministry pointed out that viral isolation and antibody testing will need to be completed before there can be 100% confirmation of its presence in the pigs.
Starting at 12 p.m., a nationwide five-day ban on pig transport and slaughter took effect. The use of food waste to feed pigs is also banned, and all meat markets will carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of farms and transport vehicles.
