Laos authorities reported seven outbreaks of African swine fever in villages in Saravane, which led to the deaths of 973 animals, the OIE said on its website, citing information from Laos' agriculture ministry.

"Illegally imported pigs, wild boars and their products from Laos intercepted by the frontier defence departments shall be destroyed under the supervision of the customs," China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement.

China will also increase quarantine inspection of packages and passenger baggage from Laos, it said.

If pigs, wild boars and their products from Laos are found coming into China via ships, aircraft, road vehicles and railway trains, the shipments will be sealed and disposed of, it said.

China has reported more than 120 outbreaks of the disease in all its mainland provinces and regions, as well as Hainan island and Hong Kong, since it was first detected in the country in early August 2018.