African Swine Fever: Japan and South Korea require pig farmers to implement high-temperature cooking of kitchen waste; experts: closely monitor pig health and strengthen border controls
To learn from the experience of various countries in preventing and controlling African swine fever, the Council of Agriculture held an international symposium, inviting experts and scholars from the United Kingdom, Russia, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and other countries to gather in Taipei for discussions. After the meeting, Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng said that the epidemic prevention experience of various countries has brought Taiwan many insights, especially the lesson to "warn ourselves that we absolutely must not cool down; high-intensity epidemic prevention practices must be maintained at all times!" Epidemic prevention must be regarded as a protracted battle.
There are three articles in this symposium series, and this article is the last in the series. Please click to read the other articles.
African swine fever symptoms do not necessarily include high fever and bleeding; as long as a pig seems unwell, pay attention
Dr. John Flannery from the United Kingdom, who has extensive diagnostic experience, said that there are many symptoms of African swine fever infection, "not every one will bleed, and there is no single, absolute criterion for judgment by the naked eye," and after infection there is also an incubation period of several days, which makes it easy for pig farmers to neglect the health status of pigs. Japanese virology PhD Dr. Takehiro Kokuho also said that most infected pigs will begin to run a high fever after three days, but a small number will show no symptoms at all, requiring further nucleic acid testing to confirm.
"So how exactly should we guard our homeland?" a pig farmer at the symposium asked excitedly. In response, Deng Ming-chung, section chief of the Animal Health Research Institute (abbreviated as AHRI) under the Council of Agriculture, believed that clinical education for pig farmers and familiarity with the reporting system should be cultivated in ordinary times. "As long as a pig shows the slightest abnormality, meeting any condition of lethargy, reduced food intake, or listlessness, more attention should be paid. It is not necessary to wait for pigs to run a high fever or even bleed before contacting a veterinarian." Participating scholars also suggested establishing a body temperature measurement system for pigs and keeping daily temperature measurement results in electronic records, which can more effectively grasp the occurrence of abnormalities in pigs.
Taiwan: travelers illegally bringing meat products refused entry, border blocking effect greatly increased
The value of livestock production accounts for about 30% of our country's total agricultural production value, with the pig farming industry accounting for the largest share. It is an important livestock industry in Taiwan. Once African swine fever invades, it is expected to cause more than 200 billion in economic losses.
Peng Ming-hsing, section chief of the Quarantine Division of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine under the Council of Agriculture, said that Taiwan is very close to China, separated by only 150 km, and an average of 85,000 travelers enter per day, half of them from China. Therefore, how to block pork from epidemic areas outside the border has been one of Taiwan's most important tasks since last year.
Through strengthened publicity and increased fines, the number of cases of illegally carrying meat products has now declined. As of the 6th, there were 134 cases with a fine of 200,000, plus 18 cases at 50,000, 296 cases at 30,000, and 44 cases at 10,000, with a total of 4.92 million in fines issued; among them, a total of 32 violating travelers had not paid off their fines (nationalities: 1 each from Israel, the United States, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Croatia; 27 Chinese travelers) and had been transferred to the National Immigration Agency for refusal of entry. "Directly refusing them entry can indeed have a certain effect; there really is a difference before and after implementation."
Hsu Jung-pin, section chief of the Epidemic Prevention Division of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine under the Council of Agriculture, also said that through joint exercises between the central and local governments and familiarity with the epidemic SOP, there will be no confusion when an epidemic occurs. The central government also encourages pig farmers to report immediately upon discovering any suspected case. After confirmation as an African swine fever epidemic and culling, 100% of the pig price loss will be provided to farmers. As for within a three-kilometer radius of the outbreak site, a 14-day movement control will be implemented, and further assessment will be made on whether to suspend slaughter auctions for one week. "There are many response methods, and at that time they will be selected based on the location, scale, and situation of the outbreak."
Council of Agriculture: Taiwan's epidemic prevention is strict, "warn ourselves that we absolutely cannot cool down"
The two-day "International Symposium on African Swine Fever Prevention and Control" brought Taiwan many insights from the epidemic prevention experience of various countries. Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng said that Taiwan's laboratory capacity, reporting system, and preventive measures are not inferior to other countries, and the strictness of epidemic prevention measures is even among the top. "The only thing to strengthen is to warn ourselves that we absolutely cannot cool down; high-intensity epidemic prevention practices must be maintained at all times!" Epidemic prevention must be regarded as a protracted battle.
Regarding monitoring the movement routes of pig transport vehicles within the country, he pointed out that in April the Central Livestock Production Association will tender a project to install GPS on pig transport vehicles. Feng Hai-tung, Director-General of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine under the Council of Agriculture, also added that it is expected that 1,000 vehicles will be registered for GPS installation, including vehicles transporting live pigs and carcasses, in order to control and track pig movement.
China's epidemic situation remains unoptimistic; Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand listed as "high-risk country areas"
Faced with China's claim that the domestic epidemic has been brought under control, Taiwan continues to find "virus meat products" at the border. According to the latest statement on the 7th from the "African Swine Fever Central Emergency Operation Center," African swine fever virus was again detected in discarded pork product "rouyan" from a traveler of our nationality who entered Taipei Port from Fujian, China on the Lina ferry, bringing the cumulative total to 30 cases. Judging from the positive detection rate, in the 107th year of the Republic of China [2018] October had 1 case (positive rate 0.6%), November had 2 cases (1.1%), December had 4 cases (2.2%), in the 108th year of the Republic of China [2019] January had 11 cases (6.2%), February had 11 cases (8.0%), and March had 1 case (5.5%). "The detection rate is still very high now. Only if it drops to within 1% would it mean there may truly be control," Huang Chin-cheng said.
However, regardless of whether China's epidemic is urgent or slowing, as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and other countries have all been listed by our side as "high-risk country areas," carrying out 100% inspection of inbound carry-on luggage is necessary. "The threat of external blocking has not decreased, because surrounding countries may become epidemic areas at any time." Huang emphasized that what Taiwan must do now is strengthen the domestic ranch epidemic prevention system and make every effort to block meat products from entering at the border. Through holding symposiums, countries can exchange opinions, and it is also hoped that after the meeting countries will maintain close contact so that the momentum of joint defense in the Asian region continues to rise.