February 11, 2021

3,000 swine culled in Hong Kong due to African swine fever

Authorities in Hong Kong said 3,000 swine have been culled in one of the city's farms due to African swine fever (ASF) the first time the virus was detected to be spreading in the city, Reuters reported.

The ASF outbreak was detected at the rural Yuen Long area, north of the city close to the border to China.

ASF is rare in Hong Kong. It was last detected in 2019 from imported swine from mainland China, which resulted in 10,000 swine culled.

Hong Kong's Agriculture and Fisheries Department said ASF was limited to that sole farm, and the owner will be compensated.

According to a February 5 report by the United States Department of Agriculture, there are 43 swine farms in Hong Kong, which supplies 15% of its live pig supplies.

- Reuters