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JAPAN-LIVESTOCK-ANIMALS
Japan culls livestock after hog cholera outbreak
TOKYO, Sept 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Japan is suffering its first outbreak of
pig cholera in more than 25 years, authorities said Sunday after culling more
than 600 animals and suspending pork exports.
A farm in central Japan saw 80 pigs die last week after catching the
highly-contagious disease, an agricultural ministry official told AFP.
Early tests showed negative results for classical swine fever, as the
illness is officially known.
But follow-up tests came out positive Sunday, prompting the cull of all
610 pigs at the farm, he added.
“We are now processing the livestock there and disinfecting the farm,” he
said, adding that officials had set up sterilisation points on access roads
to the affected farm.
The government has set up a team of specialists to analyse possible
infection routes, the agricultural ministry said in a statement.
Tokyo halted pork exports after the outbreak was confirmed. The nation
sold roughly $9 million in raw pork meat to foreign markets last year.
Japan saw its last case of classic swine fever, which does not affect
humans, in 1992.
The disease continues to rage in many parts of Asia, Europe and Latin
America.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1415 hrs