Mysterious Pig Deaths in China

May 9, 2007 — 

Reports emerging from southeastern China hint at an unidentified epidemic killing pigs. Unconfirmed reports estimate the epidemic has killed as many as 80% of pigs in the Gaoyao and Yunfu areas of Guangdong province. Other reports dispute these estimates. Official confirmation, however, has not been forthcoming.

The reports in Hong Kong said the disease began killing pigs after the Chinese New Year celebrations in February 2007 and that it is now spreading. But state-controlled news outlets in China have reported almost nothing about the pig deaths. News reports describe pigs "staggering around with blood pouring from their bodies" in Gaoyao and neighboring Yunfu, both in Guangdong Province. The Apple Daily newspaper said that as many as 80 per cent of the pigs in the area had died, that panicky farmers were selling ailing animals at deep discounts, and that pig carcasses were floating in a river. None of these reports have been officially confirmed.

Some news articles have also reported that government officials have ordered pig farmers to vaccinate their animals although they have not identified the suspected pathogen. There is some speculation that this outbreak may be related to the previously reported "Pig High Fever Disease" described in earlier e-Letter articles (Pig High Fever Disease Reemerging in China). Pathogens associated with PHFD include Classical Swine Fever, PRRS and PCV2 as well as PRV, Streptococcus suis, pasteurellosis and porcine contagious pleuropneumonia.

Representatives of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)are reporting that Chinese officials indicate that they have isolated a PRRS virus from affected pigs. PRRS is not normally associated with a hemorrhagic presentation which has been a commonly reported clinical sign associated with this recent outbreak. FAO is considering other potential causative agents including H5N1 influenza although there have been no current reports of circulating avian influenza in the area.