#13,711
It's now been 4 months since African Swine Fever was first reported in China, and as of today 21 of China's 34 provincial-level administrative units (i.e. provinces, municipal cities, Autonomous regions, & SARs) have reported ASF - including several of the large pork producing provinces in the south.
The latest province to report an outbreak is Shaanxi, where the virus has been reported in Xi'an, the provincial capital.Additionally we have reports from China's MOA or recurrences of this pig disease in Beijing, Jiangsu, and Heilongjiang.
While ASF does not pose a direct threat to human health, it can be devastating to pork producers, and China is both the largest consumer and producer of pork in the world. The uncontrolled spread of the virus could seriously disrupt China's economy and impact food security in an already stressed region of the world.
Two (translated) reports this morning from China's MOA:
The Bei'an Bureau of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, Tongzhou District of Beijing, and the Bei'an Bureau of Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Bureau have detected the African swine fever epidemic situation.
Date: 2018-12-03 13:51 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on December 3, and the Bei'an District of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, Tongzhou District of Beijing, and the Bei'an Bureau of Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Bureau detected the African swine fever epidemic.
At 20:00 on December 2, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, and was diagnosed by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (National Center for Animal Disease Research), and a farm in Xi'an District, Shaanxi Province. Out of the African swine fever epidemic situation, the farm has 245 pigs, 205 diseases and 79 deaths.
A scale farm in Tongzhou District of Beijing has detected the African swine fever epidemic. The farm has 9,835 pigs, 85 diseases and 17 deaths.
A wild pig farm in the Bei'an Bureau of the Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Bureau has detected the African swine fever epidemic, with 375 wild boars and 77 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 (domestic wild boars) 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.
Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province Chaishang district investigation and the African swine fever epidemic
Date: 2018-12-02 21:56 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on November 30, and the Chai Sang District of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, detected the African swine fever epidemic.
At 18:00 on November 30, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas received a report from the China Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, and was diagnosed by the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (National Center for Animal Disease Research), and a farm in Chaisang District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province.
Outbreak of African swine fever. Up to now, the farm has 159 pigs, 16 diseases and 4 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 measures have been implemented.
Officially, we've seen roughly 85 outbreaks reported out of China during the past 4 months, although it should be noted some outbreaks have been only belatedly reported, and surveillance and reporting may vary by location.
Given its rapid spread across Eastern China - and the inability of multiple governments in Eastern Europe to control the virus (see DEFRA map below) - the prospects for eradication ASF appear slim.
Although ASF has never been reported in North America, the potential exists for its importation from China, Europe, or Africa. The USDA has released a new African Swine Fever Factsheet that discusses their preparations for a possible introduction of the virus into this country.
(Excerpt)According to the FAO's most recent report, food insecurity and world hunger continue to increase, making agricultural diseases such as ASF, avian flu, FMD, and others important detriments to human health as well.
Keeping ASF Out
Because of the concern over ASF, USDA recently reviewed and further strengthened its longstanding stringent protections against the spread of the disease.These include:
- Collaborating with states, industry and producers to ensure everyone follows on-farm biosecurity and best practices (including for garbage feeding in states where that is allowed);
- Restricting imports of pork and pork products from affected countries; and
- Working with CBP staff at ports of entry to increase passenger and baggage screening for prohibited products from affected countries.
The 2018 State Of Food Security And Nutrition In The WorldAll of which make the progress of ASF around the world very much worth tracking.
RECENT TRENDS IN HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY
KEY MESSAGES
- New evidence continues to point to a rise in world hunger in recent years after a prolonged decline. An estimated 821 million people – approximately one out of every nine people in the world – are undernourished.
- Undernourishment and severe food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America, whereas the undernourishment situation is stable in most regions of Asia.
- The signs of increasing hunger and food insecurity are a warning that there is considerable work to be done to make sure we “leave no one behind” on the road towards a world with zero hunger.
