PRRS Continues to Affect Chinese Production

February 11, 2009 — 

According to recent reports, PRRS is responsible for the recent deaths of 1,056 pigs in Hongdong county in China's northern Shanxi province.

The dead pigs were in the Wan'an township of Hongdong, belonging to 65 households in 10 villages. About 80 percent of the dead pigs were born less than a month ago, said Qiao Yongsheng, vice head of the Hongdong county.

Samples were sent to the lab of Shanxi provincial center for animal disease control and prevention which confirmed the diagnosis.

To date, no contaminated pork was discovered at supermarkets, markets, restaurants, said Shi Hongtao, head of the Hongdong bureau for industry and commerce, and Li Yongqi, head of the health bureau.

An 2006/2007 outbreak of PRRS virus in China killed hundreds of thousands of pigs before being brought under control. The disease outbreak, in combination with a decline in production, resulted in a significant increase in pork prices.

Sources:
ProMEDmail, February 9, 2009
Associated Press, International Herald Tribune