China reports first outbreak of African swine fever
The first case of African swine fever (ASF) in China has been discovered in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province and authorities reported Friday that 913 pigs have been culled and the outbreak has been contained.
The Shenbei district in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, confirmed the outbreak of ASF on Friday. As of Friday afternoon, a large-scale slaughtered the pigs had contained the outbreak, Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Animal Health and Production confirmed in an official statement.
An online video posted on the news outlet btime.com shows the corpses of dozens of pigs being burnt in a meter-deep pit.
ASF is prevalent in Russia and Eastern European nations. It is the first time the livestock disease, which does not affect humans, has been discovered in China.
A three-kilometer zone surrounding the area where the porcine disease was discovered on Wednesday has been cordoned off.
All live pigs and livestock susceptible to the disease are being prevented from entering or leaving the zone, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on its official website on Friday.
The Shenyang government has banned the transport of pigs to areas outside the city.
Beijing issued a notice on Friday to inspect and examine local live pigs that had been transported from other cities since July 1, to inspect potential virus. Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture suggested local livestock farms suspend transporting live pigs from out of the city.
A second-class emergency response has been activated and the area is being disinfected. The local government has completed the slaughter of pigs and has set up quarantine areas where other nearby herds of pigs are being closely monitored.
The epidemic was first discovered at a farm in Shenyang where 383 pigs were being raised. Forty-seven pigs in the herd have died from the disease, the ministry said.
African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting pigs. An infected pig is usually exposed to a virus or contaminants after being bitten by an infected tick. The incubation period is 15 days.