July 21, 2004

13 Pigs Suspected Of Being Infected With Hog Cholera In Japan

The Kagoshima prefectural government in Japan said Wednesday it has found 13 pigs suspected of being infected with hog cholera at a pig farm in the city of Kanoya.

The prefecture has imposed a restriction of transferring pigs within a radius of 3 kilometers from the farm, and is stepping up efforts to prevent an epidemic, the prefecture said.

The prefecture has sent specimens to the central government's inspection institution for further tests. The disease has a fatality rate of almost 100 percent, but it does not infect humans.