May 7, 2007

 

Unidentified pig disease spreading in Guangdong province

 

 

An unidentified animal illness has spread in two southern Chinese cities, infecting at least 1,300 pigs and killing more than 300, Hong Kong newspapers reported Monday.

 

No human infections have been reported.

 

The illness started killing pigs in Yunfu city in southern Guangdong province in early April, eventually claiming the lives of more than 300 of the animals, the Ming Pao Daily News reported, citing government statistics.

 

The Apple Daily newspaper said the illness may have killed 80 percent of the pig population in Yunfu.

 

The Ming Pao said more than 1,000 pigs in nearby Gaoyao city have fallen ill since late April.

 

Apple Daily said symptoms of the unidentified disease included loss of appetite, high fever and bleeding.

 

The newspaper alleged the disease had been spread by people dumping dead pigs by into rivers.

 

A local official said animal experts have ruled out a disease that can cross over to humans, but have not diagnosed the illness.

 

Officials denied that a pig illness had surfaced, or that any pigs had died for unusual reasons.