A sample from a slaughterhouse in Thailand has tested positive for African swine disease.

African swine fever was identified in a surface swab sample obtained at a slaughterhouse in Nakhon Pathom province on Tuesday, marking the country's first official confirmation of the disease. 

Authorities initiated an investigation over the weekend, following reports that the disease was already decimating Thai pig herds in recent weeks. Accusations of a cover-up were levelled.

"Out of 309 samples obtained, one tested positive for African swine fever, including blood samples from pigs on 10 farms and surface swabs at two slaughterhouses in swine-raising provinces," Sorravis Thaneto, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, stated. 

He also promised to track into the disease's origins.

The discovery came after Thai authorities denied for years that there had been a local epidemic of the lethal disease that has ravaged Europe and Asia in recent years, killing hundreds of millions of pigs.

The revelation occurred after Thai authorities denied for years that there had been a local epidemic of the deadly disease that has killed hundreds of millions of pigs in Europe and Asia in recent years.

"Within a 5 km (3 mile) radius of where the sample was found, authorities will proclaim a disease outbreak zone, restrict pig movements, consider culling animals suspected of being infected, and compensate affected farms," Sorravis added.

Thailand, he said, would also notify the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of the disease's formal detection. 

Smallholder farms in 56 provinces were culled last year to avoid African swine fever and other viral pig illnesses, and the cabinet granted 574 million baht ($17.15 million) in compensation on Tuesday. 

According to a government official, nearly 5,000 farmers have yet to be reimbursed for the more than 159,000 pigs slaughtered between March and October last year.