September 4, 2007

PRRS expected to boost China's vaccine production 20 percent 

China would ramp up monthly production of blue-ear pig disease (PRRS) vaccine 20 percent to 300 million millilitres in September from 250 million millilitres to meet nationwide demand, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Effective vaccines have staunched the spread of a pig epidemic across China, Vice Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie said. China said it has vaccinated 100 million pigs by July this year. According to authorities, none of the vaccinated pigs have suffered a relapse.

Although the situation along the Yangtze River, China's longest river, had worsened due to the wet and warm conditions, the ministry said it had allocated sufficient vaccines to these areas.

Even with effective vaccines, outdated breeding methods in some regions and long-distance pig deliveries were also adding to the danger that pig diseases would continue to spread among the provinces, he said.

The vice minister called on local veterinarians to step up disease control efforts and transportation authorities to monitor pig deliveries to prevent the spread of the disease.

July's infection rate was half that of the previous month, with about 47,000 pigs were infected by blue-ear pig disease. By Aug. 22, the disease had infected 257,000 pigs in 26 Chinese provinces, of which 68,000 died and 175,000 were destroyed, according to the MOA.