Taiwan confirms first-ever case of African Swine Fever

TAIWAN – Taiwan has reported its first-ever case of African swine fever (ASF), prompting the government to cull nearly 200 pigs and impose sweeping biosecurity restrictions to prevent the spread of the deadly livestock disease.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that samples from dead pigs on a farm in the coastal city of Taichung tested positive for ASF on Tuesday. 

In response, animal protection and quarantine officers “preventively culled 195 pigs,” disinfected the premises, and established a 3-kilometre control zone around the farm.

To contain the virus, authorities also imposed a five-day ban on the movement and slaughter of pigs across the island, effective from Wednesday, the 22nd of October 2025, at noon. Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih said the government was taking urgent measures even before laboratory confirmation of the virus strain.

“Virus isolation takes two weeks, but we can’t wait,” Chen said at a press briefing. “We must implement the highest standards to prevent and control this suspected case of African swine fever.”

Suspected source traced to illegal meat imports

Although investigations are ongoing, Chen said the outbreak was most likely linked to illegal pork imports that entered Taiwan undetected. 

“The most likely route of transmission is from outside Taiwan, through the illegal importation of pork products, which ultimately find their way to pig farms through food waste systems,” he noted.

Authorities have reiterated Taiwan’s strict ban on bringing in any meat or meat products without inspection or quarantine clearance. Violators face fines of up to 1 million Taiwan dollars (about US$32,500).

Global disease threat still looms

African swine fever, a highly contagious viral disease that kills nearly all infected pigs but poses no threat to humans, has devastated livestock industries across Asia and Europe since 2018.

In 2019, millions of pigs were culled in China and Vietnam as outbreaks swept through the region.

According to the World Organization of Animal Health’s October update, South Korea is currently the only Asian country with an active ASF outbreak, while 12 European nations are also fighting the virus.

Taiwan’s swift response, officials said, is aimed at ensuring it does not become the next country hit by widespread swine losses.

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