Its director-general, Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor, said the confirmation was made after it investigated reports from the pig farmers involved.

Samples sent to the Sepang Veterinary Laboratory in Selangor were confirmed positive for ASF over the last few days.

Norlizan said following the test results, the department had taken proactive measures to contain the outbreak by issuing a quarantine order to the affected pig farms to restrict pig movements.

“Pigs from the affected farms were also destroyed under Section 19, Animals Act 1953 (Amendment 2013).

“Pigs from farms certified to be free from infection are allowed to be slaughtered only at approved abattoirs.

“However, the carcasses and pork are not allowed to be transported to other states,” he said in a statement last night.

Norlizan said requirements for pig and pork transfers in the peninsula have been tightened.

Monitoring, clinical inspection and sampling efforts in all farms in the infected area have been intensified.

Norlizan said monitoring and sampling efforts were also being intensified at all pig slaughterhouses nationwide.

He advised pig farmers to refrain from feeding their livestock with swill or dumping pig carcasses in rivers, pools, orchards and so on.

He urged pig farmers as well as the public to report any death relating to wild boar, village pigs or commercial pigs to the nearest veterinary offices or contact the Disease Crisis Management Room hotline at 03- 88702041.

“The department would also like to advise the public not to panic because ASF is not a zoonotic disease. It is not transmissible to humans.

“However, as a safety measure, pork must be cooked at a temperature of at least 70°C for 30 minutes to kill the virus,” he said.