Ministry: China's pig epidemic under control
BEIJING - China has brought the blue-ear pig disease (PRRS) under control, said Gao Hongbin, vice minister of agriculture, today.
29 October 2007
2 minute read
The disease, which has been on the decline since it peaked in June, has been checked within all the epidemic outbreaks, he said.
By 25 October, the highly pathogenic disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, had infected 310,134 pigs in 1,030 epidemic outbreaks in 304 counties of 26 Chinese provincial areas, of which 81,030 died and 235,380 were culled, he said.
China has been carrying out a vaccination program and has tightened supervision on the transportation, trading and slaughtering of pigs to combat the disease, said Gao.
The epidemic has caused pork supply shortage and fuelled price rises in recent months, which resulted in the consumer price index experiencing an 11-year high monthly increase of 6.5 percent year-on-year in August.
Central and local governments have promised a fund of 14.6 billion yuan (1.9 billion $US) this year to encourage farmers to raise pigs and boost pork supplies.
By 18 October the average price of pork in Chinese shops had dropped 11 percent from its peak in August.
By 25 October, the highly pathogenic disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, had infected 310,134 pigs in 1,030 epidemic outbreaks in 304 counties of 26 Chinese provincial areas, of which 81,030 died and 235,380 were culled, he said.
China has been carrying out a vaccination program and has tightened supervision on the transportation, trading and slaughtering of pigs to combat the disease, said Gao.
The epidemic has caused pork supply shortage and fuelled price rises in recent months, which resulted in the consumer price index experiencing an 11-year high monthly increase of 6.5 percent year-on-year in August.
Central and local governments have promised a fund of 14.6 billion yuan (1.9 billion $US) this year to encourage farmers to raise pigs and boost pork supplies.
By 18 October the average price of pork in Chinese shops had dropped 11 percent from its peak in August.
Further Reading
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- Find out more information on PRRS by clicking here. |
