Thailand on alert against ASF

BANGKOK, September 7 (TNA) - An official panel has been set up by the Department of Livestock Development, under the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to prevent any outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF) in the country. The department's director-general Dr. Sorawit Thanito told journalists of the move on Friday, following reports on serious ASF outbreaks in China currently, causing sick and dead pigs in a large number. Dr. Sorawit explained that the ASF is highly tolerable to the environment and a pig, once infected with the virus-borne exotic disease, can still be the carrier of the disease throughout its life even if it fully recovers from the disease. Besides, ASF, despite the nature of its non-transmission to humans, can spread quickly among live pigs and there has been no vaccine to prevent the animal disease yet. To prevent any outbreak of ASF in Thailand, Dr. Sorawit said that the panel has been set up, chaired by he himself and comprising of representatives of relevant public and private parties, to work together to watch out and control the animal disease in the country. According to the senior veterinarian, a laboratory has been opened by his department in the Lower Thai Northeast to conduct tests on suspected ASF cases, 24 cases in each set, with a quick result of only about three hours. The senior official revealed that he has also ordered a high vigilance against ASF at animal checkpoints of all Thai airports and border passes. (TNA)