The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported today (computer translated) the first African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Guangdong Province in southern China.
The outbreak was reported in a slaughterhouse in Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City. 11 pigs were killed.
Guangdong is the twenty-third province to report ASF.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs sent a steering group to the local area. The local government has started the emergency response mechanism as required, and adopted measures such as blockade, culling, harmless treatment, disinfection, etc., to treat all the sick and culled pigs harmlessly. At the same time, all pigs and their products are prohibited from being transferred out of the blockade, and pigs are prohibited from being transported into the blockade.
LISTEN: Kansas State University’s Stephen Higgs, PhD talks about ASF in China and the risk to the US
ASF poses no direct health threat to humans; however, in its most virulent strain, it is 100 percent fatal to infected pigs.
It is a major threat to the swine industry and to the livelihoods of small scale farmers and others along the value chain. China produces half of the world’s pigs – with a current population of some 500-million swine.
Chinese investors bought the largest U.S. pork producer — Smithfield — a few years ago. Chinese government policy has been to ensure widespread availability of pork at reasonable prices to prevent social instability. Apparently, the purchase of Smithfield is the backup plan in case of a pork crisis in China. We may be seeing that crisis develop. Pork prices may rise in the U.S. as a result.