The first case of African swine fever has been reported in Taiwan and a large number of pigs have been culled.

Taiwan recorded its first case African At least 195 pigs from the affected farm were killed due to swine fever on Wednesday. Authorities also ordered a ban on the movement and slaughter of pigs across the island.

The agriculture ministry said samples of dead pigs from a farm in the coastal city of Taichung tested positive. african swine fever On Tuesday.

Animal protection and quarantine officers immediately went to the farm and “preventively killed 195 pigs”, the ministry said. Authorities then monitored the cleaning and disinfection of the farm and established a containment zone within a 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) radius from its center.

Authorities also ordered a five-day ban on the movement and slaughter of pigs across the island from Wednesday afternoon.

Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-jih told a news conference that Taiwan would isolate the virus strain before officially reporting it to the World Organization for Animal Health.

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

African swine fever, which is almost always fatal to pigs, does not affect humans or other animals outside the pig family.

This is the first case of the virus in Taiwan, Chen said. The island prohibits bringing in any meat or meat products without proper inspection and quarantine, which can result in a fine of up to 1 million Taiwan dollars (about $32,500).

“The most likely route of transmission is through illegal importation of pork products from outside Taiwan, which eventually reach pig farms through food waste systems,” Chen said.

Millions of pigs were killed in 2019 China And in Vietnam the virus spread to Asia.

Currently, the only Asian country where African swine fever outbreaks are ongoing is South Korea, according to the World Organization for Animal Health’s October report on the virus situation around the world. 12 countries of Europe are also struggling with this virus.

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Associated Press video journalist Johnson Lai taipeiTaiwan contributed to this report.