#13,755
Although Guangdong Province managed to escape China's African Swine Fever epidemic for almost 4 months, last Wednesday - in China MOA: ASF Reaches Guangdong Province - we saw their first reported outbreak in Zhuhai City, which lies adjacent to Macao and only about 56 km to the west of Hong Kong.
Two days later, Taiwan's BAPHIQ announced their 6th interdiction of an ASF positive food sample by Customs officials - reportedly purchased in Macao - an area not officially recognized as impacted by the virus.And today, China's MOA announces a second outbreak in Guangdong province - this time in Guangzhou City - about 120 km north and west of Hong Kong.
Huangpu District of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, investigation and the African swine fever epidemic
Date: 2018-12-23 11:15 Author: Source: Agriculture and Rural Department of Public Information Office
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office issued December 22, Huangpu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, investigation and the African swine fever epidemic.
At 20:22 on December days, the Ministry of agriculture and rural areas to the control center reported Chinese animal epidemic prevention, the animal disease prevention and control center in Guangdong Province confirmed, Huangpu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, a farm investigation and the African swine fever epidemic.
Up to now, the farm pig herds 6027, the incidence of 30, died nine.
After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural immediately sent a steering group to the local. Started as required by local emergency response mechanism, to take the blockade, culling measures to deal with harmless treatment, disinfection, culling of all pigs died and sound processing. At the same time, prohibiting all pigs and their products to bring up the blockade zone, prohibiting the transport of live pigs blockade zone. At present, these measures have been implemented.
While Hong Kong has some local pig farms, they import the bulk of their food products - including pork - from the mainland. With ASF reported nearby, local pig farmers are becoming concerned over government efforts to block the virus.
This English language South China Morning Post (SCMP) article (h/t Crof, who sent it to me) - and which was published before this latest report from Guangzhou City - outlines their concerns.
While the ASF virus doesn't infect humans, the ramifications of its continued global spread could certainly impact the public's health and well-being.
The most immediate involves the mass culling of pigs, which can deprive local populations of both the economic benefits and food protein of pork production. A particularly harsh blow for low-income, food-insecure regions of the world.
But as ASF (and Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD), & Avian Flu) spread, they also inhibit international trade, and can help compartmentalize counties and economies.As we've discussed often in this blog, food insecurity - whether due to disease, floods, droughts, or other causes - can bring on severe economic and societal challenges (see Iran: Bird Flu, Food Insecurity & Civil Unrest).
Given its rapid spread across Eastern China, the lack of a vaccine - and the inability of multiple governments in Eastern Europe to control the virus (see DEFRA map below) - the prospects for any quick eradication ASF in Asia appear slim.
And even though 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)
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.
