June 21, 2024

Classical swine fever found in wild boars in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Japan

Two wild boars were confirmed to be infected with classical swine fever (CSF) on June 6 in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Japan, near a farm where the disease was confirmed in August last year, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

This is the first time that a wild boar has been confirmed to be infected with swine fever on Kyushu. The island accounts for about one-third (2.8 million) of Japan's 8.95 million pigs.

The ministry plans to strengthen surveillance and capture of wild boars and implement oral vaccination in some areas. Vaccination of domestic pigs will continue.

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization's Animal Health Research Division is attempting a detailed genetic analysis of the CSF virus detected in this case, and the relationship between this outbreak and other cases, including the outbreak at the farm last year, will be examined.

- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Japan)