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| Photo Credit BAPHIQ |
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Over the past 5 months we've seen more than a half dozen reports (see here, here, here, and here) of ASF (African Swine Fever) positive pig carcasses washing up on the beaches of Taiwanese controlled islands.
Taiwan sits between 60 and 90 miles off the Chinese mainland, but the ROC exercises political control over several groups of islands (Kinmen, Wuqiu & Matsu) that lie much closer to the mainland.As noted previously in this blog (see here, here, and here), China's farmers have - on occasion - resorted to the clandestine dumping of diseased livestock into rivers and lakes rather than reporting outbreaks to local officials.
Most famously, in 2013 - in Shanghai Govt.: Thousands Of Dead Pigs Retrieved From River - we saw reports of as many as 3,000 pig carcasses dumped in the Huangpu river - a tributary of the Yangtze - that provides many of the 23 million residents of Shanghai with their drinking water.There are, admittedly, a lot of pig diseases in China, including FMD, PED & PRRS - and farmers may elect to move quickly to remove sick pigs from their herd in hope of preventing the further spread of their disease.
All of which may explain why - while 7 ASF-positive pig carcasses have been recovered in Taiwan's territory over the past few months, another 90+ ASF-negative carcasses have been found as well.This announcement today from Taiwan's BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal Plant Health Inspection & Quarantine).
Closely monitor sea drift and abandon dead pigs, and urge the operators not to dispose of them at will
The Central Hunger Disaster Response Center (Strain Center) of the African Hog Chops said today (23) that in order to prevent the invasion of African swine fever, the monitoring of sea drift and abandoned pigs has been continued.
Up to now, 98 items have been inspected (outlying islands 23). Pieces, 75 pieces of Taiwan's main island) sea drift and abandoned dead pig samples, 7 out of the island samples from mainland China sea drift pigs detected African swine fever virus nucleic acid positive, respectively, 5 Jinmen County and Lianjiang County 2 Pieces; Taiwan’s main island has not detected a positive case.
In order to detect suspicious cases early, the epidemic prevention mechanism will be launched immediately. The Agriculture Committee will cooperate with the Marine Commission and the local government to strengthen the patrol of the coastline by the IOC.
Or the people's report, the local government took the initiative to find the abandoned pigs, that is, notify the local animal epidemic prevention agency to conduct sampling and disposal, and send the samples to the Animal Health Laboratory of the COA for testing.
So far, 98 have been inspected (outlying islands 23) Pieces, 75 pieces of Taiwan's main island) sea drift and abandoned dead pig samples, 7 out of the island samples from mainland China sea drift pigs detected African swine fever virus nucleic acid positive, respectively, 5 Jinmen County and Lianjiang County 2 Pieces; Taiwan’s main island has not detected a positive case. In addition, the results of the test of 2 dead pigs in Xinbei Wanli were reported today. The HIV test for African swine fever virus was negative, and there was no African swine fever virus.
The Strain Center appeals to pig farmers. Dead pigs should be properly disposed of in accordance with the Animal Husbandry Law. Do not dispose of them at will. If they are found, they can be fined according to the provisions of the Waste Cleanup Law, the Animal Husbandry Law, etc., and if the legal animal infectious diseases are detected. It can be investigated and dealt with in violation of the regulations on the prevention and control of animal infectious diseases.
The maximum amount is NT$1 million, and animals culled according to law are not compensated. The Strain Center also appealed to local governments to strengthen the inspection of the source of abandoned pigs and impose penalties in accordance with the law to curb wrongdoing.
Contact person: Xu Rongbin, leader of the Anti-inspection Bureau Tel: 02-33432065
2019-05-23
It is not entirely clear from this statement what percentage of these 98 cases originated from the Mainland, although only 23 carcasses have been retrieved from Taiwan's outlying islands.
The appeal to farmers to follow the animal husbandry laws in the disposal of dead pigs suggests that a substantial number of dead pigs have been abandoned locally. None of the carcasses recovered on Taiwan's main island has tested positive for ASF.If ASF (or CSF - Classical Swine Fever) were to show up in Taiwan's pig herds, the clandestine and illegal disposal of sick pigs could delay its detection, and give the virus a head start.
And given the speed at which ASF has spread across China, and most recently Vietnam, that's an advantage the Taiwan government dare not allow the virus.
