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Taiwan discovers first case of African Swine Fever

The Taiwanese government is testing hog herds for African Swine Fever after discovering its first case Monday.

Swine Health Information Center Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg tells Brownfield given Taiwan’s proximity to China this isn’t a surprise. “There have been washups of carcasses on other islands around Taiwan as well. They have tested positive.”

Sundberg says U.S. pork producers remain vigilant in their biosecurity practices to prevent the disease from entering the country.  He says they are the last line of defense in biosecurity and should monitor their entire production system. “They again have to pay heightened attention to biosecurity connections that they’ll have on the farm,” he says. “Not necessarily biosecurity of who’s coming on and off the farm, but possible connections that person may have with somebody else.

Sundberg says the virus can also be spread through international feedstuffs and pork products. 

African Swine Fever is highly transmissible and deadly to pigs, but it does not impact human health or food safety. 

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