TOKYO, Nov. 18 ― Japan’s agriculture ministry said on Nov. 16 that a domestic pig at the livestock center park in Gifu prefecture was tested positive for classical swine fever, also knows as hog cholera.
The announced came after the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) confirmed swine fever virus in the final analysis.
This is the second case of domestic pigs found infected with the swine fever virus in Gifu. In addition, the carcass of a wild boar found in Gifu in September was also found infected with the virus.
The swine fever is unrelated to the African swine fever that has broken out in China and other countries in Easter Europe.
Swine fever occurs among pigs and wild boar and is not infectious to humans, but it can be devastating the pork industry because pork sales would be severely disrupted.
Following the confirmation of disease, Japan has suspended exports of pork and other pork products.
According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the OIE free status will be restored three months after the last confirmed case following special measures and monitoring.