Taipei: The case of African swine fever (ASF) at a farm in Taichung marked the first domestic outbreak of the infectious disease in Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Center responding to ASF confirmed Saturday. Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih informed at a news conference that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) would be notified after samples of dead pigs at the farm tested positive for the nucleic acid of the ASF virus.

According to Focus Taiwan, Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung stated at the same news conference that authorities anticipate completing nationwide testing of hog farms by Sunday. Preliminary findings have shown no evidence of the virus spreading, as reassured by Chen Shih-chung.

Despite the negative results from other hog farms, concerns regarding the ASF virus remain, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to implement control measures that are expected to last for 15 days.

The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent any possible spread of the virus, ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to protect Taiwan’s pig farming industry.