#13,471
For the fifth time in less than a month China's MOA has announced a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), involving yet another province (Anhui). This comes just 24 hours after China's MOA warned that additional outbreaks were possible (more on that after today's announcement).
First the (translated) announcement from the MOA:
An African swine fever epidemic occurred in Nanling County, Wuhu City, Anhui Province
Date: 2018-08-30 20:23 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The news office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on August 30, and a pig swine epidemic occurred in Nanling County, Wuhu City, Anhui Province.
On August 29, the Anhui Provincial Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department discovered that pigs from a farm in Nanling County, Wuhu City died of unknown causes during the investigation of the African swine fever epidemic. On August 30th, it was diagnosed as an African swine fever epidemic by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (National Center for Animal Diseases Research). The field coexisted 459 pigs, and as of now, there are 185 cases and 80 deaths.
After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs immediately dispatched a steering group to Anhui Province. The local authorities have started the emergency response mechanism according to the requirements, and adopted measures such as blockade, culling, harmless treatment, disinfection, etc., and have culled 379 hair sick pigs and the same group of pigs. All the sick and culled pigs have been harmlessly treated. . At the same time, all live pigs and susceptible animals and products are prohibited from entering or leaving the blockade. At present, the epidemic has been effectively disposed of.
Yesterday China's MOA released a long Q&A on ASF on their website, where they announced the Ministry would `Go All Out' to control the epidemic, but cautioned that additional outbreaks were possible.
Below you'll find a (translated) excerpt.
Go all out to African swine fever epidemic prevention and control
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau answered reporters' questions on African swine fever epidemic
Date: 2018-08-29 10:57 Author: Source: Agriculture and Rural Department of Public Information Office
Since August this year, China 4 cases of African swine fever outbreak has occurred, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau to answer questions from reporters on issues related to African swine fever epidemic prevention and control.
Q: Can you tell us about the current situation of African swine fever epidemic prevention and control?
A: Since August this year, Shenbei Shenyang, Zhengzhou Economic Development Zone, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Haizhou District, Yueqing City, Wenzhou, Zhejiang has four cases of African swine fever outbreak, which was first introduced into China African swine fever. After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural start Ⅱ level emergency response according to "African swine fever epidemic contingency plan", the first time to the public the epidemic situation and early warning information, make every effort to epidemic prevention and control.
- First, quickly and decisively disposal epidemic. Local guide immediately launched the emergency response, taking blockade, culling, harmless treatment, disinfection and other measures, also asked to strengthen supervision over the movement of live pigs, pause pig out high-risk areas, strengthening biosafety management.
- Second, the depth retrospective epidemic. Provincial Department set up a joint working group, in close cooperation with public security organs, carry out a comprehensive epidemiological investigation.
- Third, the full deployment of prevention and control. Has issued a notification, video conferencing, comprehensive arrangements for national African swine fever prevention and control work. At the same time, convene an expert committee judged the epidemic situation.
- 4 is a comprehensive arrangements for monitoring the investigation. Carry out a comprehensive investigation and guidance around monitoring to ensure that farming, trading, slaughtering link full coverage of key areas and key links to sample monitoring full coverage, pig farms in high-risk areas sample monitoring coverage. Up to now, the country has a total field investigation point 16,348,300 times, pig 721,494,600 times; sample collection has accumulated 16970 copies, 16965 copies inspection.
- 5 is to strengthen scientific propaganda. In a timely manner to the public, outbreak information to the authorities and international organizations to promote African swine fever scientific knowledge through a variety of channels, the elimination of public panic.
- 6 is to strengthen coordination among various departments. General Administration of Customs released the first time the warning notification, departments will convene Chamber of Commerce, a clear division of labor, detailed measures to further the formation of a joint prevention and control of the force.
Currently 4 outbreaks have been effectively disposed of. But the present situation, the virus contaminated surfaces to be further investigation of the epidemic, there are many uncertainties subsequent epidemic situation, do not rule out continued to appear may contain new outbreaks. In addition, the disease in neighboring countries, long-term me popular, constantly spreading, passing again the risk is still great.
(Continue . . . . )
While ASF does not infect humans it has the potential to cause great harm to China's pork industry, and by extension to China's economy, food supply, and potentially its political stability.
Over the past week we've looked at a number of analyses of ASF in China - and in Europe - including:
DEFRA: Update On African Swine Fever (ASF) In Eastern EU
FAO: African swine fever (ASF) threatens to spread from China to other Asian countries
EID Journal: Molecular Evolution, Diversity, and Adaptation of Influenza A(H7N9) Viruses in China
Although only first reported in China less than a month ago, 5 outbreaks of ASF in 5 different provinces in just under 4 weeks raises questions about how this virus is spreading so quickly, and long this virus may have been circulating unnoticed in China.
Stay tuned.
