April 11, 2023

Localities in China step up action to stop ASF

Multiple Chinese localities have recently stepped up prevention measures against African swine fever, including expanding disinfection and monitoring at relevant facilities, according to official statements and media reports.

While some reports suggested there has been a resurgence of the virus in recent months, there is no official information about such a surge as of April, the Global Times reported.

At least a half dozen localities in provinces, such as Northwest China's Gansu and Southwest China's Yunnan, have taken preventive steps against ASF, according to a report on thepaper.cn.

Authorities in Zhuoni County in Gansu recently issued a notice that banned the transport of pigs from areas outside China's northwestern region, except for breeding pigs, piglets and ASF-free areas that have passed national assessment. Local hog farmers are also restricted from purchasing live pigs from outside the province.

The notice warned that purchasing live pigs that have not passed inspection carry an extremely high risk of spreading animal diseases, which could lead to serious losses of pigs. 

Two others counties in Gansu also issued same notices.

Similarly, a town in Luoping county in Yunnan also issued a notice on cracking down on illegal transport of live pigs, calling for strengthened supervision and prevention of spreading risks during the transport process to stabilise live pig supplies in the town.

Other localities, such as Laishan, East China's Shandong Province, has stepped up inspections of ASF at slaughterhouses and dispatched veterinarians to conduct onsite inspections of appropriate measures.

- Global Times