China calls on large pig farms to test African swine fever

BEIJING (Reuters) – China will allow large pig farms and livestock farms to test African swine fever to enable early detection of the disease, reversing the previous ban on commercial enterprises. 39, perform their own tests.

The Ministry of Agriculture has asked local livestock offices to encourage large farms to procure kits for the deadly virus that swept the country, said Tuesday the Ministry of Agriculture. 39, Agriculture and Rural Affairs on its website.

This decision comes as China struggles to control the epidemic, which some badysts believe could lead to the death or slaughter of 200 million pigs this year, which would lead to a serious shortage of pork in the first half of the year. global producer.

Previously, Beijing required that tests be processed by government agencies after detection of signs of disease, and test kits were not legally available on the market.

This change would contribute to "early detection, early reporting and early treatment" of African swine fever by reducing the risk of spread through transport, slaughter and processing of infected pigs.

Outbreaks of the disease, which are not harmful to humans, have already been reported in almost all parts of mainland China.

Many cases are also not reported, industry experts told Reuters, and previous testing rules prevented the detection and treatment of outbreaks.

According to the statement, the test kits should be approved by the Chinese Ministry or Animal Disease Control Center.

Authorities should provide funds to farms for testing and local livestock departments should help with technical services, he added.

Before the diagnosis, farms should isolate pigs and other potentially infected objects, and positive samples should also be kept and not used for further testing without Ministry approval, he added.

Although the Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly said that the disease was under control, the statement notes that "awareness of the prevention of outbreaks in pig farms in China is generally low."

He added that "the overall level of prevention of epidemics is low and that cleaning and disinfection measures are difficult to implement".