According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, following WOAH’s official confirmation, the country has once again become the only one in Asia free from all three major swine diseases — ASF, foot-and-mouth disease, and classical swine fever.
It should be recalled that in October last year, Taiwan recorded its first-ever ASF case on a pig farm in Taichung, which led to the temporary loss of its disease-free status. After the outbreak was eradicated, the affected farm disinfected, and all subsequent laboratory tests returned negative results (including samples taken after November 21), the case was officially closed on January 23, 2026.
Taiwan submitted its application to regain ASF-free status on February 21, and WOAH completed the review in a record time of just over one month, compared to the initially expected 6–8 months.
Authorities emphasize that this outcome reflects the country’s high level of preparedness, an effective veterinary control system, and the ability to respond quickly to epizootic challenges.
Experts note that Taiwan’s experience is illustrative for other countries: rapid response, strict biosecurity, and transparent communication with international organizations are ключові factors in successfully combating ASF.
At the same time, African swine fever remains a significant threat for Ukraine, particularly due to the ongoing circulation of the virus in wild fauna. In such conditions, improving producers’ awareness is a critical tool for strengthening sector resilience.
To address this, the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, together with leading industry experts, has developed an online course “African Swine Fever — What Businesses Need to Know,” available on the AgriAcademy platform. The program covers all key aspects of ASF control — from transmission pathways to modern approaches in diagnostics and biosecurity.
The course consists of five modules, includes practical assignments, and is available in a flexible format at any time. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate.
The training is free of charge.
Register here:
https://courses.agriacademy.org/courses/course-v1:FAO+ASF+2024Q4/about
PigUA.info based on taipeitimes.com