Thailand reports first African swine fever outbreak of the year
Thailand has reported an outbreak of African swine fever, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The outbreak occurred on a farm with 70 pigs in Chiang Mai. The outbreak began on June 5 in Luang Nuea Village, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. It was reported to WAHIS on July 10. Of the 70 pigs in the village, three became sick and one died. In total, 69 pigs were culled.
It is the first outbreak reported since September 2023.
The source of the infection is suspected to be food waste and fomites, or possible surfaces contaminated with bacteria. One possibility is that the food waste given to the pigs was not heated properly due to the large size of the container in which it was stored.
Proximity of the farm to a waste collection area and the presence of stray dogs, along with a weak and inadequate fencing, may have allowed the dogs to have introduced the virus into the farm.
