China Confirms African Swine Fever Outbreak for First Time Since July

October 13, 2020 — 

China confirmed the first reported outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) since July 25 in piglets illegally transported to the southwestern city of Chongqing on Friday. [Source: Farm Journal's Pork 9 October 2020 by Jennifer Shike]

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said 70 piglets were seized by the Chongqing Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center. Two of those piglets were dead and 14 were ill, Reuters reports.

In an effort to slow the further spread of this disease, all piglets were culled and relevant places, roads and transport vehicles were disinfected, Reuters reports.

Although ASF is not dangerous to humans, it is fatal to pigs and has had a major impact on global pork trade. Currently, China, among others, have banned German pork imports due to an ASF outbreak in wild boars in Germany.

China, the world's largest pork consumer, is working to rebuild its herd after ASF first struck the country in August 2018.