Page 96 - 2019 Annual Report Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

Learning from Nature: Harmony and well-being
Unit 5: Major Events in 2019
The “African Swine Fever Central Emergency Response Center" conducts an inspection at Taoyuan International Airport.
1. A Look Back at Key Events in 2019
(1) Measures to prevent African swine fever
After the first case of African swine fever occurred in mainland China on August 3 of 2018, Taiwan took immediate steps to prevent the disease from entering our territory. On December 18 of 2018, the government formed the "African Swine Fever Central Emergency Response Center," and comprehensively strengthened border controls and implemented disease testing measures. An inter- ministerial meeting was held each month to reassess and refine relevant measures.
A. The African swine fever situation and border control measures
By the end of 2019 there had been outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in 11 countries: mainland China (including Hong Kong and Macao), Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Korea, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia. The neighboring nations of Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore were all listed as high-risk countries.
Starting from January 16, 2019, the COA began doing X-ray inspections at the Taoyuan International Airport of all carry-on and checked baggage for travelers from the above-mentioned countries with ASF outbreak or high-risk countries, and we also implemented X-ray inspections of 100% of hand-carried and checked baggage at other international airports or ports of entry. Also, as of January 25, inbound foreign travelers illegally carrying pork products shall be fined NT$200,000 or above, and those foreigners who cannot pay the fines on the spot will be refused entry into Taiwan by the National Immigration Agency.
B. Domestic disease-prevention measures
The COA launched three early warning mechanisms, which were as follows:
(a) Monitoring and testing of sea-drifting and discarded pig corpses: We completed collection of specimen samples which were sent for testing in 163 cases. On offshore islands, 12 of the specimens were sea-drifting pig corpses from mainland China which tested positive for ASF
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