February 13, 2023

Hong Kong, China authorities cull 100 pigs following ASF infections

 

Authorities in Hong Kong, China, have culled about 100 pigs at a farm in Sheung Shui after 32 of the animals tested positive for African swine fever (ASF).

 

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on February 10 said the infections would not affect local pork supply or operations at local slaughterhouses, adding that the virus did not pose any food safety hazards.

 

The cases were detected during an inspection of a licensed pig farm at Ta Kwu Ling.

 

In response to inquiries by the South China Morning Post, the department said it had started investigating the farm after receiving reports of "a number of pig carcasses" disposed of at a nearby animal carcass collection station. Authorities would investigate the possible source of infection and take enforcement action when necessary, it added.

 

The department immediately suspended the supply of pigs from the farm until further notice, in line with contingency procedures for the virus, a spokesman said in a statement.

 

"The farm has about 100 pigs which will all be culled for the sake of prudence," he said. "African swine fever is not a zoonotic disease and will not infect humans, hence it does not cause any food safety risk."

 

The spokesman added authorities had immediately inspected five other pig farms within 3km of the affected premises, with no further cases detected.

 

The government will step up inspection of all local pig farms to ensure "biosecurity measures have been properly implemented," according to the spokesman.

 

The department said it would, with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, also continue to conduct cleaning and disinfection of live pigs from mainland China to minimise the risk of cross-infection with ASF.

- South China Morning  Post