The deadly African swine fever virus is spreading like wildfire. It has already ravaged China’s US$128 billion pork industry and has spread to other Asian countries and territories, including Hong Kong, last month.
Although African swine fever is not harmful to humans, given its high mortality rate, it has the potential to wipe out Taiwan’s pork industry and, as a result, destroy not just the livelihoods of farmers and related businesses, but also undermine the nation’s food security and push up prices. Since there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, the government must do everything in its power to prevent it from spreading to Taiwan.
