According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the African swine fever virus has reached Indonesia.

This disease was confirmed by laboratory tests conducted on samples taken from 4,000 pigs killed during the outbreak of classical swine fever, an official spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture said.

“Clinical symptoms and laboratory findings indicate African swine fever, but there are also samples that are positive for swine cholera,” said Fajar Samping Tiatur Rassa, director of the Department of Agriculture for Animal Health.

Classical swine fever was first discovered in September in the province of North Sumatra in Indonesia. “As far as ASF is concerned, economic damage is causing concern because of its rapid spread and high mortality rate,” the official added.

The government took biosafety measures in the affected areas, asking local authorities to bury the pig carcass and disinfect sites to prevent the spread of the virus.

In addition, pigs and pork products from affected areas are prohibited.

The disease was discovered in the last two months in East Timor, which shares the island with the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tengara.