Experts warn it could take years to contain the hog-killing virus given the differing biosecurity standards on commercial pig farms and backyard smallholdings across Asia.
"The price impact will be sizeable," said Christine McCracken, senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, speaking from the US. "We relied on income from the pigs for my kids' schooling," the 50-year-old told AFP after his animals were killed and dumped into a burial pit. All three countries have bumped up fines for smuggling in pork products - up to US$8,400 in South Korea - and Japan has deployed sniffer dogs and quarantine stations at major airports.
"It's spreading like wildfire in Asia because... the pig is the garbage truck of Asia," said Simon Quilty, an independent meat and livestock analyst based in Australia.Experts predict it could take anywhere from two to 10 years for the virus to be fully contained in Asia, while fears are mounting of a global scourge embedding in farms with poor biosecurity standards and wild boar populations.
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