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Background African swine fever

China faces increasing virus outbreaks again

15 July 2020 - Chanti Oussoren - 2 comments

African swine fever (ASF) is a major concern in the world. China is aiming to restore its pig population but is still struggling with outbreaks of contagious pig diseases. Also foot and mouth disease (FMD) in pigs. Meanwhile, Vietnam is striving for an AVP-free country by 2025 and tempers are rising in Germany about the construction of a fixed fence on the border. 

African swine fever has gripped the global swine industry for some time now. Outbreaks of the contagious and deadly virus have had major consequences, especially in China. The domestic pig herd there has reportedly been nearly halved due to outbreaks of the virus. For some time now, the country has been planning to restore the pig population and outbreaks have fallen, partly due to smaller herds and better hygiene.

However, new outbreaks of the virus are throwing a spanner in the works for these plans. The number of outbreaks of ASF has increased again in some parts of southern China. According to analysts, this is the result of heavy rainfall and flooding. Zheng Lili, chief analyst at Shandong Yongyi consultancy, said the floods have led to new infections since mid-June and thwart logistics. 

Floods spread ASF
An investigation by Shandong Yongyi shows that dozens of cases of the virus have occurred since the heavy rains in the areas. This would have led to infections because pig farmers usually bury the infected pigs and the rain may have spread the disease through the groundwater, the analysts said.

There is nervousness among many pig farmers in the affected provinces. Entrepreneurs who have just filled their pig herd with new sows have a lot of fear of being hit again.

Foot-and-mouth disease in Chinese pig herd
ASF outbreaks aren't the only virus China should be concerned about. An outbreak of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among pigs has also recently been reported in southern Guandong province. 39 of the 131 pigs on the farm were infected and 1 pig died.

In China, FMD is classified as a disease that can cause serious damage and requires an urgent response. "Local authorities are handling the outbreak in accordance with disease control and prevention regulations," the ministry's veterinary and animal husbandry office said. 

Vietnam wants to be virus-free
Vietnam has also been struggling with ASF outbreaks for some time. The country aims to have more than 2022% of regions free of ASF by 90, by 2025 the country should be completely free of the disease. The intention is that 90% of the small and medium-sized pig farms, and 80% of the large-scale pig farms, will take bio-security measures. At the same time, work is underway on a possible vaccine.

To achieve this, the focus is on the timely detection of infected cases and taking preventive measures. In addition, there will be stricter supervision of the inspection of transports and the testing capacity will be strengthened. A campaign is also being launched to make people more aware of the virus and the possibilities of its spread.

Fence between Germany and Poland
In Germany, where there have been no ASF outbreaks to date, there is a lot of concern about the possible introduction of the virus via infected wild boars from Poland. To prevent the virus from being introduced, a fence was placed along the German-Polish border in March. However, the German state of Brandenburg was concerned that the movable fencing would not be enough to keep the virus out and demanded a permanent fencing, but environmental groups were against this.

Several federal states have now expressed the wish to have a fixed fence installed. In order to realize the construction of a fixed fence, the Animal Health Act must be revised. That law currently does not allow the installation of a permanent fence for preventive purposes. To change this, a bill has been drawn up by the German Federal Council. Parliament is expected to vote on this this autumn.

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Chanti Oussoren

Editor at Boerenbusiness who studies the dairy, pig (meat) and feed markets.
Comments
2 comments
15 July 2020
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/varkens/ artikel/10888353/china-kampt-weer-met-increasing-virus outbreaks]China is again struggling with increasing virus outbreaks[/url]
Then the feed price will drop even further.
Fred 20 July 2020
Without China we are going back to the stone age.

Europe is stuck with hands and feet to this country, a disaster in medication, technology, prosperity: Complete lack of bottleneck analysis in simple material flows, is the least you can expect from a government instead of our total dependence.

this on top:

Prosperity decline through investment public labor currency in countries that lived off currency operation and investment in what we already have (energy) as well as culture giveaway and dictatorship of Europe, ruled by mega corporations make our party of freedom and democracy a blot on our existence as humanity!

Good news for our 130.000 newcomers, in addition to the 65.000 houses of our new construction, we also give away our culture:

There are believers who believe that this is what they have been promised:
it is waiting for witch chariot, crucifixion and public stoning.
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