Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/04
By: Yang Shu-min and Flor Wang

Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德)

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) called Friday for an all out effort by the government and private sector to combat African swine flu (ASF), as the risk of the virus spreading from China to Taiwan increases.

Speaking at the second meeting of the Central Emergency Operation Center in case of an outbreak of ASF, Lai said that cooperation between the central and local authorities and pig farmers must be further strengthened to prevent the pig epidemic from reaching Taiwan, after a second dead pig was found floating near the coast of Kinmen Island.

Lai stressed that anti-ASF drills must be conducted across Taiwan to accumulate experience in prevention work and dealing with any potential ASF outbreak. He asked the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and Council of Agriculture (COA) to deal with the dead pigs and drills in close collaboration with experts, central and local government agencies.

As of Friday morning, nine cities and counties had set up ASF control centers, while five others are ready to do so and eight have yet to take action, according to Lai, who noted that he has ordered the establishment of such centers across the country before midnight Friday.    [FULL  STORY]