Taipei: Taiwan has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the only country in Asia free of African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease. This development comes after the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) declared Taiwan free of classical swine fever.

According to Focus Taiwan, the last reported case of classical swine fever in Taiwan occurred in 2005 in Changhua County, with no new cases detected since then, as confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). In a recent press release, the MOA announced that Taiwan was officially recognized by WOAH as free of classical swine fever during its 92nd general session, which is currently being held in Paris.

This recognition underscores Taiwan’s robust animal disease prevention and quarantine capabilities, reaffirming international confidence in its veterinary standards. Taiwan ceased all classical swine fever vaccinations on July 1, 2023, and submitted its application for recognition to WOAH in August 2024. Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed gratitude to former Premier Su Tseng-chang and previous administrations for their efforts, which have positioned Taiwan as the only Asian nation free from the three major swine diseases.

Cho also extended his thanks to the public for adhering to government policies and complying with epidemic prevention regulations. Taiwan, which experienced an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 1997, was declared free of the disease by WOAH in 2020.

In a related context, African swine fever, which spread from China in 2018 to neighboring countries, including Taiwan, was effectively controlled by Taiwan, leading to its declaration as free from the disease last year.