New swine fever case confirmed in Japan

March 24, 2019

Gifu--Japan's agriculture ministry said Saturday a new case of swine fever infection has been confirmed at a pig farm in Yamagata, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan.

The prefecture will slaughter some 2,000 pigs raised at the farm.

This is the 12th swine fever case confirmed in Japan since the first instance of the disease in 26 years in the country occurred in the prefecture in September last year.

The prefecture conducted an on-site inspection of the farm on Friday after receiving a report about pigs with poor appetite. A total of 17 pigs at the farm tested positive for swine fever in a detailed examination.

According to the prefecture, 463 pigs raised at the farm were shipped on March 1 to a different pig farm in the same city.

The prefecture will also inspect the farm to which the pigs were shipped. This farm raises about 8,000 pigs.

In Gifu Prefecture, the feeding of wild boars with vaccines mixed in food was set to start on Monday, with the aim of preventing the spread of swine fever.

"The outbreak at this timing was extremely regrettable," Gifu Governor Hajime Furuta said. Jiji Press