December 1, 2022

Swine movement restricted in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to stop spread of African swine fever

Thailand's livestock development officials have ordered swine farmers in the Doi Saket district of Chiang Mai province, Thailand, not to move swine from their farms, as a cautionary measure to stop the spread of African swine fever (ASF), Thai PBS World reported.

According to the Chiang Mai Livestock Office, officials were dispatched to a swine farm in Pa Pong sub-district earlier this month after a farmer reported the death of a few swine with symptoms similar to those infected with ASF.

Random blood tests on the farm's remaining swine revealed no ASF virus, but livestock officials said that the viral load may be too low to detect.

Another swine in the district became ill and died on November 11, but the farm's owner refused to allow officials to test the other swine on his farm.

On November 21, another pig died. This prompted livestock officials to visit the farm and test a sick animal, which led to the real-time PCR detection of the ASF virus' DNA.

The farm in question had to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in addition to the proper disposal of the swine carcasses.

Swine farmers within a five-kilometer radius of the farm were told by livestock officials not to move their animals until further notice.

-         Thai PBS World