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On the heels of two previous reports over the past two days, Taiwan's BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal Plant Health Inspection & Quarantine) is reporting another ASF-infected pig has been discovered on the beach of one of their islands. They are also reporting 4 new interdictions of ASF positive pork products brought into the country from China.
We have the translated press release below.
Border Monitoring mainland Chinese pork products again detected four cases of African swine fever virus gene, mainland China Kinmen dead pigs floating sea again detected in African swine fever virus nucleic acid positive
African swine fever Central Disaster Response Center today (11) said, the Chinese mainland pork article again found to four cases African swine fever virus gene, has reached a total of 40 cases, respectively, on October 1, 107 cases (positive detection rate 0.6%), Nov. 2 (1.1%), December 4 (2.2 %), 108 January 11 patients (6.2%), February 11 patients (8.0%), March 5 (3.9%), April detected 6 cases (14.0%), the detection rate is still high.
Response Center said 37th embodiments are made anti-CIQ Kaohsiung branch Golden Gate quarantine station on March 26 samples from the head Harbor disposed sausages box of; 38 and 39 cases of Taichung branch Taichung airport quarantine station on March 27 samples from Macau visitor arrivals sausage and bacon disposed of at the disposal box (Guangzhou production); the first 40 cases by the Kaohsiung branch of Kaohsiung airport quarantine station on March 31 from sampling to Iraq were abandoned box of dried pork. Such sample sequencing Council of Agriculture Animal Health Research Institute (livestock Wei) detection is confirmed, gene fragment sequences and gene fragments mainland China similarity of African swine fever virus strains up to 100%, indicating the spread of pork products in mainland China African swine fever risk can not be ignored.
In addition, Kinmen County Animal and Plant Protection Station (Protection Station of Golden Gate) on April 8 received a Golden Gate Coast Guard patrol zone bulletin, the occasion of the European house by the sea wall copper Yamagishi found a dead pig in gold Kinmen County town, the scene of the acquisition-related subject, pigs buried the bodies burned on the spot, sending the specimen animal health examined by sequencing to confirm that the detected gene fragment sequences and gene fragments mainland China African swine fever virus strain similarity of 100%. Response Center added, dead pigs has been found that the location of the Golden Gate prevention Chedi complete sterilization was found to have a radius of 3 km of nine farms, in performing clinical veterinary examination hall, in good health situation, no abnormal situation, and executes the control moves and sampling and monitoring. Another is to ensure the security industry as a whole, will be suspended Kinmen County pigs and pork products to Taiwan and other islands at least one week, but after checking through the seven companies in the past 108 years April 9 production of dried pork and pork floss, still to Taiwan Island and other islands.
Response Center called on the people not to bring meat products immigration, foreign net purchases of meat and do not send Taiwan, and offenders will be subject to heavy penalties, do not defy the law.
Dead pigs have been washing up on Taiwan's beaches since late December (see ASF: When Pigs Float), and the carcasses appear to have been dumped into rivers and streams (probably in Fujian Province), and carried out to sea.
Taiwan, has also interdicted dozens of ASF-positive food products being brought into the country by travelers from China (and recently, from Vietnam), and is desperate to keep the virus from gaining a foothold in their country.
The percentage of ASF-infected pork products seized by Taiwanese officials has consistently risen since last fall, and so far in April is at the highest rate- 14% - we've seen so far, which suggests the amount of ASF in China's food supply may be increasing.
