January 17, 2021

African swine fever detected in Thailand

Thailand has confirmed a case of African swine fever (ASF) has been detected at a slaughterhouse in Nakhon Pathom province, the first official confirmation of the disease, Reuters reported.

An investigation was launched last week after speculation rose that ASF was already spreading in Thailand amid cover up accusations.

Sorravis Thaneto, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, said one sample tested positive for ASF out of 309 collected. Samples were taken from swine at 10 farms and surface swabs at two slaughterhouses in hog-raising provinces.

The discovery comes after Kasetsart University detected the disease in a dead pet pig last month.

Sorravis said a disease outbreak zone will be enforced within a five km radius of the positive sample. The zone will restrict movement of swine, take into consideration swine culling, and pay compensations to affected farms.

574 million THB (~US$17.15 million; 10 THB = US$0.30) in compensation will be given to smallholder farms in 56 provinces were swine have been culled to prevent the spread of ASF and other swine-related diseases.

A government spokesman said close to 5,000 farmers have not been compensated for 159,000 swine culled between March to October 2021.

-      Reuters