Japan's first swine fever case in 26 years

Japan has suspended its exports of pork and wild boar meat after confirming an outbreak of swine fever.

Millions of pigs are being culled across Asia amid fears swine fever will spread further. (AAP) Source: AP

Japan has confirmed its first outbreak of swine fever in 26 years and suspended exports of pork and wild boar meat.

The fever, a different kind from the African swine fever that has broken out in China, was found in a farm in central Japan's Gifu city, the agriculture ministry said on Sunday.

Swine fever occurs among pigs and wild boar, and is not infectious to humans, the ministry said in a statement.

African swine fever was detected in China in early August and has been found in 18 farms or abattoirs in six provinces, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The FAO said last week it was almost certain to spread from China to other Asian countries.