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Until now, China's ASF epidemic has been concentrated in the Northeastern part of the country (see USDA map below, dated Oct 17th), with the bulk of the nation's 40+ outbreaks reported in Liaoning & Anhui Provinces.
Today, China's MOA reports ASF for the first time in the southern province of Yunnan - representing a jump of well over 1000 km from the nearest previous outbreak - along with a re-occurrence in Zhejiang province.
Two (translated) reports: First two outbreaks in Yunnan Province, followed by a single outbreak in Zhejiang.
African swine fever epidemic in Zhaotong City, Yunnan ProvinceReport #2:
Date: 2018-10-22 08:41 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on October 21, and an African pig swine epidemic occurred in Zhenxiong County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province.
At 20 o'clock on October 20, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center. The Yunnan Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention received samples for diagnosis in Africa by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (National Center for Animal Diseases Research). Swine fever.
The positive samples were from a farm and a breeding professional cooperative in Niuchang Town, Zhenxiong County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. The cattle farms in Niuchang Town had 804 live pigs, 298 cases, and 298 deaths. There were 353 live pigs, 247 onset, and 247 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 as required, 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 epidemic has been effectively disposed of.
African swine fever epidemic in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province
Date: 2018-10-22 12:51 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on October 22, and the pig swine fever in pigs in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province.
At 1700 on October 21, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention. The sample submitted by the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention was diagnosed as Africa by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (National Center for Animal Disease Research). Swine fever.
The positive samples were from a breeding professional cooperative in Sanmen County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province. The breeding professional cooperatives had 2,280 live pigs, 56 diseases and 56 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 as required, 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 epidemic has been effectively disposed of.
Exactly how ASF arrived to China earlier this year - and quickly spread across half the country - remains a mystery. That said, it is almost certain that ASF's dissemination is being aided and abetted by human activities, such as the movement of contaminated food, feed, vehicles or animals.
While not a human health risk, African Swine Fever represents a serious threat to the pork industry, local economies, and even to food security for some nations.ASF has never been reported in North America, but the potential exists for its importation - such as we saw with the arrival of PEDV five years ago - which is believed to have arrived from China (see mBio: PEDV - Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus – An Emerging Coronavirus).
But with ASF also spreading widely in Eastern Europe and Russia, and recently detected as far west as Belgium, China isn't the only avenue for introduction.For more on the growing threat of ASF to China, its neighbors, Europe, and potentially the world, you may wish to revisit:
FAO: African Swine Fever (ASF) `Here to Stay' In Asia
African swine fever (ASF) threatens to spread from China to other Asian countries
McKenna On African Swine Fever
