Saudi MOH Announces 45th MERS Case From Wadi Aldwasir

Original Map Credit Wikipedia

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Even though the number of new MERS cases being reported out of Wadi Aldwasir has dropped over the past week, the Arabic MERS twitterverse (#كورونا) has come alive over the past couple of days with unverifiable rumors, frantic calls for transparency by the Ministries of Health of both Saudi Arabia and Oman, and fervent prayers for the outbreak to end.

Oman has not released any new information since Friday's announcement of 4 new cases, bringing their total to 10 - with 4 fatalities.

After reporting 4 new cases yesterday, the Saudi MOH reports a single case today - once again a secondary, healthcare acquired case from Wadi Aldwasir.

While hard information on the outbreaks in both countries has been hard to come by, there have been copious official (MOH) and semi-official (local hospital and schools) tweets about MERS safety; washing hands, avoiding camel contact, not drinking unpasteurized camel milk, etc.

https://twitter.com/PMAH_RIYADH/status/1098250046917746690

China MOA: 27th Province/Territory (Shandong) Reports ASF

2 New Provinces Reported in 24 hours (Guangxi & Shandong)

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After reporting more than 100 ASF outbreaks in 5 months - starting about two weeks before the Chinese New Years celebration (Feb 5th), and lasting for nearly a month - China's MOA reported only 1 outbreak (Feb 8th) of African Swine Fever.

That lull has apparently ended, as over the past 24 hours 2 new provinces - more than 1000 miles apart - have reported ASF outbreaks. 

Yesterday, it was Guangxi Province - the last hold out in Southern China - reporting outbreaks on two farms with 23,000+ pigs.  Today it is Shandong Province, reporting an outbreak on a farm in the Capital city of Jinin.

African swine fever epidemic in Laiwu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province

Date: 2019-02-20 14:26 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office 

The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on February 20th, and the African swine fever epidemic occurred in Laiwu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province.

On February 20, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, and was diagnosed by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology.

A pig swine outbreak occurred in a farm in Laiwu District, Jinan City. Up to now, the farm has 4,504 live pigs, 17 diseases and 3 deaths.

Immediately after the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs sent a steering group to the local area. The local government has started the emergency response mechanism according to the requirements, and adopted measures such as blockade, culling, harmless treatment, disinfection, etc., to treat all the sick and culled pigs harmlessly. At the same time, all pigs and their products are prohibited from being transferred out of the blockade, and pigs are prohibited from being transported into the blockade. At present, the above measures have been implemented.

While these MOA announcements provide an official notification date, the actual (or suspected) start date of these outbreaks is rarely mentioned.  In the past we've seen some substantial delays in reporting out of China.

Hopefully we'll get some specifics when the OIE notifications are published.

China's response to their ASF crisis has changed over the past couple of months.

During the first few months of China' ASF crisis (August - November), their MOA took a very vocal, hard-line stance against farmers, pig transporters, and pig feed manufacturers whose actions might help spread the virus (see MOA Joint Statement On `Very Serious' Spread Of ASF & New Outbreak In Hubei).

In late December that tone began to change.

Some of the newly enacted regulations were eased (see China MOA Relaxes Some Rules On Pig Transport Amid Ongoing ASF Epidemic), apparently in order to promote the adequate flow of pork for the Lunar New Year's Holiday.

Despite the discovery of more ASF contaminated food products, and infected dead pigs found floating in the waters off the Mainland, by mid-January top officials were publicly downplaying the crisis (see China MOA Denies ASF `Epidemic' While Taiwan Increases Interdiction Efforts).

A week later, news of ASF outbreaks all but stopped coming from China. Admittedly, during the prolonged Chinese New Year's celebration, most agencies (local and national) are short-staffed, and that may well account for the lull.

At the same time, however, the number of  ASF contaminated food products being interdicted by customs officials in Taiwan, Japan, and Australia continued to rise, and we've seen a spate of reports (see here, here, and here) of dead pigs dumped into rivers and streams in China.

Whether we are now seeing a `managed release' of information from the MOA, the  end of a genuine lull in outbreaks, or reporting delays caused by farmers (or local officials) being reluctant to report outbreaks over the holidays, one thing is abundantly clear.

Any suggestions that China's ASF crisis is under control are both exaggerated and premature.

Japan: MAFF Confirms 10th Farm Infected With CSF (Classical Swine Fever)

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While China and Vietnam contend with African Swine Fever - since September of last year Japan has been dealing with Classical Swine fever - and today announces their 10th farm (and 8th in Gifu Prefecture) to test positive for the disease.

Often clinically indistinguishable from African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is caused by a different virus (genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae).

Both diseases are highly contagious among pigs, and can be economically devastating for pork producers, but neither disease poses a direct human health threat.

In addition to the 10 farms now affected, as of their last update, the OIE lists:

As of the 12th February, 738 wild boars (81 dead and 657 captured) in Gifu prefecture have been tested and 133 (43 dead and 90 captured) were found to be positive for CSF by RT-PCR since 13th of September. 59 wild boars (14 dead and 45 captured) in Aichi prefecture have been tested and 10 were found to be positive (1 dead and 9 captured) for CSF by RT-PCR since 14th of September. Among the other prefectures, 172 dead wild boars in 36 prefectures were tested and all were found to be negative by RT-PCR since the 14th of September.

Today's (translated) announcement from Japan's MAFF follows:

Confirmation of suspected affected animals of swine fever in Gifu Prefecture, about (10 case was in Japan)

2019 February 19,

the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Today, suspected affected animals of swine fever has been confirmed in a pig farm in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture. 

We are taken all possible measures for the quarantine measures for the disease.

The farm has to refrain from the movement of breeding pigs from the time the suspicion of swine fever has occurred. 

Interview in the field, thank you for your cooperation as strictly refrain from such that there is a risk that cause the spread of the disease. 

1. Overview of the occurrence farm

Location: Gifu Prefecture Mizunami
breeding situation: fattening pig 5,775 head 

2. Background

(1) Gifu Prefecture, February 18 (Monday), received reports from the farm that there are loss of appetite pig, animal health inspectors have conducted a site inspection.
(2) the same day, because the suspicion of swine fever is caused by the inspection at the Livestock Hygiene Service Center, was subjected to a thorough examination, today (February 19, Tuesday), has been confirmed to be a suspected affected animals of swine fever directly below.

 3. of future correspondence

On the basis of the "specific livestock epidemic quarantine guidelines for classical swine fever", and taken all possible measures for the following quarantine measures, and the like. 

(1) The farm breeding pigs slaughtered and baked burial, and carried quickly and accurately quarantine measures necessary for setting of the movement restriction zone.
(2) Since the spread of infection prevention, strengthening the disinfection of peripheral generation farm, we set up a disinfection point to the main road.
(3) For the investigation of such infection route, and dispatch the epidemiological investigation team of the country.
(4) aims to ensure the early detection and early notification of the disease.
(5) strive to relevant ministries and sufficient cooperation, producer, consumer, we will endeavor to provide accurate information to the distributors and the like.
(6) thorough guidance on compliance with the Standards of Rearing Hygiene Management of intrusion prevention, etc. to the farm disinfection and wild animals of the farm.
(7) In order to investigate and prevent the spread of such infection route, it will assume all the possibilities investigation.

(Continue . . . )

Until last September, Japan had been one of only 35 countries (see map below) that has been certified by the OIE as being free of the disease with their last outbreak reported in the early 1990s.

 With Japan's recent suspension, that number now stands at 34.

Saudi MOH Announces 4 New MERS Cases

Original Map Credit Wikipedia

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After only reporting 3 new MERS cases out of Wadi Aldwasir over the past 4 days, we're seeing a bit of an uptick again , with 3 new cases - plus a 4th primary (camel contact) case from Afeef City. 

Since January 29th, Wadi Aldwasir has reported 44 MERS cases, involving both primary community acquired infections (with, and without camel contact), and at least 3 clusters (healthcare, household, and community).

• 6 cases have been listed as secondary, household contacts
• 2 cases have been listed as secondary, community-acquired
• 24 cases have been listed as secondary, healthcare-acquired.

 While one of today's cases is listed as a secondary, healthcare acquired, the other two are `under investigation'.

Today cases bring the Kingdom's total to 69 cases for the year, with 55 of those coming in this month of February.  

Meanwhile, we've heard nothing official since Friday from neighboring Oman regarding their outbreak (see OMAN: 4 New MERS Cases Reported) - which raised the number of cases in 2019 to 10, with four deaths.

China MOA: ASF Reaches Guangxi Province

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For the past month we've heard very little about African Swine Fever outbreaks in China, except for one reported in Yongzhou City earlier this month. Instead, what we have seen is:

• A steady stream of ASF contaminated food items - manufactured in China - being confiscated at airports in Taiwan, Japan, and Australia
• Multiple media reports of the dumping of dead pigs into rivers in China
• And multiple media stories about food manufacturers finding ASF in their products

Today China's MOA breaks the pattern with the first report of ASF in Guangxi Province - the last holdout in Southern China - on two farms with more than 23,000 pigs.  Guangxi becomes the 26th Chinese Province and/or territory to report the ASF virus since it first emerged in early August 2018.

African swine fever epidemic in Yinhai District, Beihai City, Guangxi
 
Date: 2019-02-19 15:37 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office 

The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on February 18, and an African swine fever epidemic occurred in Yinhai District, Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

On February 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, which was diagnosed by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology, and the African swine fever epidemic occurred in two breeding communities in Yinhai District of Beihai City. 

Up to now, the above two breeding communities have coexisted 23,555 live pigs, with 1,629 cases and 924 deaths.

Immediately after the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs sent a steering group to the local area. The local government has started the emergency response mechanism according to the requirements, and adopted measures such as blockade, culling, harmless treatment, disinfection, etc., to treat all the sick and culled pigs harmlessly. At the same time, all pigs and their products are prohibited from being transferred out of the blockade, and pigs are prohibited from being transported into the blockade. At present, the above measures have been implemented.
 

While it may not be connected to ASF,  two hundred miles north of Beihai City - still in Guangxi Province - we get yet another report of dead pigs dumped into a river; this time in Liuzhou City.

Guangxi Liuzhou river stench of dead pigs floating nearly 50 source is not yet known

Southland this newspaper reported February 18, February 18, Liuzhou City in Guangxi Province, near the entrance to the park Dole Dole River, the river, the sudden large and small, dozens of dead pigs. After receiving the report, Yufeng District Animal Health Authority immediately organized the staff to the scene, and to initiate cleanup. Reporters learned that, because the number of dead pigs, cleanup is expected to take two days.

In the afternoon, this reporter went to the park Dole, Dole on the river about 200 meters away from the entrance to the park and saw a large number of dead pigs are bamboo rope together. Due to prolonged water immersion, these dead pig whole body swollen, and have begun to rot. It exudes a strong air of rancid flavor, disgusting.

A staff member told reporters that the management at the park, park officials in carrying out inspections on February 17, and did not find them dead pigs. They speculate that a heavy rain the night before, these dead pigs rushed to the area from the upper reaches of the park.

While official reports of ASF outbreaks have declined greatly from China since the first of the year, Chinese news stories about dead pigs `死猪' found dumped in rivers appear to be on the increase. 

There are, admittedly, a lot of pig diseases in China, including FMD, PED & PRRS - and other factors - such as cold snaps or contaminated feed - can cause high pig mortality. 

Related to ASF or not, we've seen China's farmers resort to `midnight dumping' of sick or dead livestock in the past to avoid reporting disease outbreaks, so we'll continue to monitor these reports.

Vietnam Reports First (3) Outbreaks Of African Swine Fever

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Five days ago Taiwan's BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal Plant Health Inspection & Quarantine) announced the detection of ASF Positive Pork Products Brought In By Passengers From Vietnam, which immediately led to concerns that the virulent pig disease had spread out of China to a neighboring country.

This was a scenario envisioned by the FAO more than 6 months ago (see FAO: African swine fever (ASF) threatens to spread from China to other Asian countries), and today we have confirmation of 3 Vietnamese farms in two provinces (Thái Bình and Hưng Yên) have been confirmed infected. 

Reuters has a very brief report (see below), and following that we have more details from the Vietnamese media.  As of this writing, no formal announcement appears on the MARD (Vietnam's Agriculture Ministry) website.

African swine fever detected on three Vietnam farms: animal health department
HANOI (Reuters) - African swine fever has been detected on three farms in northern Vietnam, the Animal Health Department said on Tuesday.

Authorities have culled all the pigs on the farms located in Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces, southeast of the capital Hanoi, the department said. 

(Continue . . . )

This translated report from Lao Dong.

The Department of Animal Health officially announced: African swine flu has entered Vietnam
 
LDO | February 19, 2019 | 16:38

In the afternoon of February 19, 2002, the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) officially announced a press conference in Vietnam that found eight cholera swine outbreaks in Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces.

Information on African swine flu (ASF), Department of Animal Health said, in Hung Yen city (Hung Yen province), ASF virus has been detected in 2 households, Mr. Duong Van Vu (Team 5). , Dao Dang village, Trung Nghia commune, TP.Hung Yen) and the household of Mr. Le Xuan Tinh (Cua Nhu 2 village, Yen Hoa commune, Yen My).
 
Upon receiving the information, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) instructed the central, local and local authorities at all levels to destroy all 33 of the pigs. raising households Mr. Duong Van Vu and 101 pigs of Mr. Le Xuan Tinh's household; General cleaning, antiseptic spraying continuously for households with epidemics, access roads and epidemics and high-risk areas.

Hung Yen's agriculture and rural development sector urgently established quarantine, strictly managing the transport, slaughtering and consumption of pork products in epidemic areas; total review of the situation of pigs in the commune and other localities in the area. Organize sampling to test pig households around households with outbreaks.

After the test, in the vicinity of the household of Mr. Vu's family, he gave a negative result. Test results of pigs in the neighborhood of Mr. Tinh's family are waiting for test results.

In Thai Binh province, 6 households in 4 villages of Dong Do commune, Hung Ha district have been found to have ASF.

By this time, 123 pigs of livestock households have been completely destroyed. Veterinary agencies and local authorities have carried out general cleaning, spraying disinfectants continuously in areas with epidemics, access roads and epidemics and high-risk areas; establishment of quarantine latch, strict management of transportation, slaughtering and consumption of pork products in epidemic areas; total review of the situation of pigs in the commune and other localities in the area.

It is good that after organizing the sampling to test pig households around the household, there are negative results.

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While ASF doesn't pose a threat to human health, it can be devastating to pig production. Given the dismal progress in containing the ASF virus in Eastern Europe, Russia, and most recently China (see DEFRA map below), the prospects for successfully halting this virus remain slim.