For years, Taiwan stood as a rare success story in the global fight against African swine fever, having fended off the deadly disease even as it swept through neighboring Asian countries. That changed on October 22, 2025, when authorities confirmed the island’s first domestic case, setting off a flurry of emergency measures and raising new questions about the resilience of Taiwan’s pork industry.
The outbreak was first detected at a pig farm in Wuqi District, Taichung, after a troubling spike in pig deaths. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 117 pigs died on the farm between October 10 and 20. On October 21, tests confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in samples from the dead animals, prompting immediate action. As reported by ABC and the Associated Press, authorities swiftly culled 195 pigs at the affected site and established a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) control zone around the farm to contain the virus.
"Virus isolation takes two weeks, but we can’t wait," Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih told reporters at a press conference, as cited by AP. "We must implement the highest standards to prevent and control this suspected case of African swine fever." The urgency was clear: with the disease nearly always fatal to swine and no effective vaccine available, early containment is critical.
The government wasted no time in imposing a five-day, nationwide ban on the transport and slaughter of pigs, starting at noon on October 22. This sweeping measure, reported by CNA and the Taipei Times, was paired with a prohibition on feeding pigs with kitchen waste, a common practice in Taiwan but now considered a potential pathway for the virus to reach farms. The Ministry of Agriculture also temporarily halted all pork exports, and began thorough cleaning and disinfection of meat markets and transport vehicles. Pigs that had already been transported before the ban were allowed to enter markets and slaughterhouses, but could not leave, ensuring no animals would inadvertently spread the virus to new locations.
The arrival of African swine fever in Taiwan marks a dramatic reversal for the island’s agricultural sector. In May 2025, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) had recognized Taiwan as the only Asian country free of all three major swine diseases: African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease. The Taipei Times highlighted that this achievement followed years of stringent biosecurity measures, including strict border controls and fines of up to 1 million Taiwan dollars (about $32,500) for bringing in uninspected meat products.
Minister Chen shared at the press conference that the most likely route of infection was the illegal importation of pork products, which may have entered pig farms through food waste systems. "The most likely route of transmission is from outside Taiwan, through the illegal importation of pork products, which ultimately find their way to pig farms through food waste systems," he explained, as quoted by AP. This echoes the experience of other countries in the region. In 2019, millions of pigs were culled in China and Vietnam as ASF swept through Asia, devastating local pork industries and driving up food prices.
For Taiwan, the stakes are high. Pork is a staple of Taiwanese cuisine, and the pork industry is a central pillar of the island’s agriculture, generating around NT$70 billion (US$2.3 billion) annually, according to CNA. The outbreak threatens not only the livelihoods of farmers but also food security and consumer confidence. The Ministry of Agriculture has launched an investigation into the source of the infection and is monitoring the health of all pigs in the area. Officials have also reviewed the transport routes and all 33 farms associated with the affected site, but so far, no abnormalities have been found.
To coordinate the response, an emergency operations center was set up in Taichung on October 22. The authorities are supervising the cleaning and disinfection of the affected farm and surrounding areas, and have established a control zone with strict movement restrictions. The Central Emergency Operations Center for African Swine Fever warned that the virus is highly contagious and can persist for extended periods: about 100 days in refrigerated pork, up to 1,000 days in frozen pork, and a month inside pigpens.
Despite the severity of the outbreak, officials have emphasized that African swine fever poses no risk to humans. The virus does not infect people or animals outside the pig family, and there is no danger of transmission through pork consumption. This message, reiterated by the Taipei Times and government spokespeople, aims to reassure the public and prevent unnecessary panic.
Globally, African swine fever remains a formidable challenge. As of October 2025, the only Asian country with a confirmed ongoing outbreak besides Taiwan is South Korea, according to the World Organization for Animal Health’s latest report. Twelve European countries are also battling the virus, and since 2022, ASF has affected 68 countries and territories worldwide. The disease’s ability to survive for long periods in meat and on surfaces makes eradication especially difficult.
For now, Taiwan’s immediate focus is on containment and prevention. The ban on pig movement and slaughter, coupled with the prohibition on kitchen waste feed, reflects the government’s determination to act swiftly and decisively. Minister Chen emphasized that Taiwan would isolate the virus strain before officially reporting it to the World Organization for Animal Health, but noted, "We must implement the highest standards to prevent and control this suspected case of African swine fever."
As the five-day lockdown unfolds, authorities are urging farmers and the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with control measures. The hope is that these rapid interventions will prevent further spread and allow Taiwan to regain its disease-free status—a status that, until this week, set it apart in the region.
The coming weeks will be critical for Taiwan’s pork industry, its farmers, and the broader community. With memories still fresh of the devastation wrought by ASF in neighboring countries, the island’s response is under close scrutiny both at home and abroad. For now, Taiwan’s resolve is being tested in real time, as it battles to contain a threat that has already changed the landscape of agriculture across the globe.