Taichung: Inspections of nearly 80 percent of hog farms yielded no new cases of African swine fever (ASF) after a recent infection was reported in Taichung, but the situation remains "tense" due to the virus's 15-day incubation period, Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih said Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the first round of screening included 40 farms linked to the site in Taichung's Wuqi District, which recently reported the country's first confirmed case of ASF since 2005. Chen confirmed that a single round of testing may be insufficient, given the virus's 15-day incubation period. He emphasized that the situation is entering a more tense phase.
Chen, who leads the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) handling the infection, stated that nationwide testing of hog farms is expected to be completed by Sunday. Authorities may refine monitoring efforts if needed. A 15-day ban on slaughtering, transporting, and feeding pigs with kitchen waste has been imposed to prevent potential disease spread, causing disruptions for food providers and hog farmers.
The CEOC based in Taichung will review the implementation and impact of these measures daily, with discussions every five days to decide on any necessary changes. The case has also sparked debate over the use of kitchen waste as feed, with criticism aimed at President Lai Ching-te for his past opposition to a ban when he was premier in 2018.
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan of the KMT stated that she imposed a ban on using kitchen waste as hog feed in late 2018, amid the ASF outbreak in China, citing the risk of contagion. In response, Lai argued that most local government heads opposed a full ban during a meeting at that time. Consequently, a rule was established allowing continued use of kitchen waste if it meets hygiene standards by heating above 90°C for more than an hour.
President Lai asserted that the policy effectively prevented the virus's spread through improperly managed waste. Chen added that local governments are responsible for issuing related recycling licenses, and the central government respects their decisions regarding kitchen waste use. The ministry is willing to explore international practices on recycling kitchen waste into feed rather than using raw waste for hogs.