Ministry: China's pig epidemic under control

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.

Further Reading

- Find out more information on PRRS by clicking here.

ThePigSite News Desk

Sign up for our
regular news updates

Latest Pig Industry News

•   Farm Animal Disease Warnings
•   Japan: More Leftovers Recycled for Animal Feed
•   Livestock Transport Legislation Grinding to a Halt
•   Southeast Iowa Pork Producers to be Aided
•   Buffalo Imports Threaten Philippine Livestock
•   $20M Available under Cull Breeding Swine Program
•   AFBF Launch Animal Care Initiative
•   Pfizer Revenues Rise
•   Columbian TOPIGS Rep Cercafé Certificated
•   Big Dutchman Anniversaries: Company Hosted 450 Guests from Around the World