Thailand culls pigs to stem African swine fever

BANGKOK, 19 Sept 2019:

Thailand has culled more than 200 pigs this week in the first such action amid heightened fears of a potential outbreak of African swine fever.

Thailand has yet to report any outbreaks of African swine fever among its pigs, though neighbouring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have all confirmed cases of the deadly disease.

Thailand’s department of livestock said the culling of the pigs was a preventative action after two pigs died mysteriously in the northern province of Chiang Rai, about 20km from Myanmar.

The culled pigs were within 1km radius of the pigs that had fallen ill and died.

The department said blood and tissue samples of the first pigs were sent on Sept 16 to a lab in Lampang province to see whether they had contracted African swine fever. Lab results could take about 14 days.

Thailand has been on high alert since neighbouring countries reported outbreaks and has banned imports of pig and pork products from Laos and Myanmar.

African swine fever was first detected in Asia last August in China, wiping out nearly 40% of pigs in the world’s largest pork producer. It has since spread across Asia, affecting Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines.

South Korea was the latest country affected by the virus, confirming two cases this week.

– Bernama