Radio Taiwan Internatinal
Date: 08 January, 2020
By: John Van Trieste
Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung (second from left) observes a baggage inspector at work at Taipei's Songshan Airport on Wednesday.
Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung says that this year’s Lunar New Year travel rush will bring with it a heightened risk of African swine fever reaching Taiwan. That’s because the disease has spread widely in the past year, hitting eleven countries in Asia.
The disease does not affect humans but is fatal to pigs. So far, Taiwan has succeeded in keeping the disease out, ramping up inspections and airports and handing out fines on those caught bringing meat products in. But there are still fears that the disease could hit Taiwan, with devastating consequences for its sizable pork industry. [FULL STORY]