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After going nearly a full month (January 20th - February 19) reporting just one ASF outbreak, over the past three days China's MOA has announced three new outbreaks, including in two newly impacted provinces (Guangxi & Shandong).
This lull in reporting began - perhaps coincidentally - about two weeks before, and lasted until about two weeks after, this year's Chinese New Year celebration (Feb 5th).The third outbreak reported in as many days comes from Yunnan Province, which last reported an outbreak on November 17th of 2018.
African swine fever epidemic in Lishui City, Yunnan Province
Date: 2019-02-21 16:42 Author: Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Press Office
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was released on February 21, and an African swine fever epidemic occurred in Lishui City, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province.
On February 21, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs received a report from the China Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, which was diagnosed by the Yunnan Provincial Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, and an African swine fever epidemic occurred in a farm in Lishui City, Nujiang Prefecture. Up to now, the farm has 300 pigs, 6 diseases and 2 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 the ASF virus doesn't infect humans, but it can be devastating for the pig industry, and the ramifications of its continued global spread could certainly impact the public's health and well-being.
ASF has never been reported in North America, but the potential exists for its importation from China, Europe, or Africa. Late in 2018 the USDA 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.
