Cover image via MalayMail & TodayOnline & Liang Yi FoodA recent discovery of African Swine Fever virus (ASF) in imported luncheon meat has sparked a ban on all pork and canned pork products in Sarawak and Sabah until further notice
According to a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA), Sarawak found DNA of African Swine Fever virus in an imported can of luncheon meat from China, on Friday, 25 October.
New Straits Times reported that the virus was detected by the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) in one out of 17 imported canned pork products.
Meanwhile, DVSS will conduct checks and recall all affected products in supermarkets
The 'hold-test-release' system will also be done on all imported products to ensure that they are ASF-free.
No cases of infection have been reported so far.
However, the public is warned to avoid buying pork products from countries that are at-risk.
The following countries in Asia that have experienced an ASF outbreak are:
– China,
– Mongolia,
– Vietnam,
– North Korea,
– Cambodia,
– Laos,
– South Korea,
– Myanmar,
– the Philippines, and
– Timor Leste.
According to World Organisation for Animal Health, ASF is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs.
No vaccine is available for the disease, however, it does not affect humans or other farm animals.
