BANGKOK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Department of Livestock Development under the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on Friday has listed 24 provinces as "surveillance areas" for African Swine Fever (ASF).
The Livestock Department has ordered the 24 provinces to be under strict animal control to prevent and deter any signs of emerging ASF, said in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives website.
The government has reiterated that until now, there have been no evidences of ASF in the country; however it is better to prevent and deter for now in the face of emerging ASF outbreak in neighboring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
The Livestock Department has 24 out of its 77 provinces on watch and imposed strict measures in movement of pigs and wild boars, including carcasses, semen or embryos for breeding.
Violation of the restrictions is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to 40,000 baht (about 1,320 U.S. dollar), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives website.
