Killer pig virus nears major China cities as spread quickens
A killer pig virus that began spreading in China four months ago has picked up pace, causing at least one fresh outbreak on average a day this month and encroaching on major cities including Beijing and Shanghai.
At least 20 provinces covering most of China’s northeastern, eastern and central areas have reported pigs infected with African swine fever, which isn’t known to harm humans but typically causes hogs to die within days. Authorities have stepped up surveillance around border areas after the disease was found close to North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
About 600,000 pigs have been culled to stem the disease, which threatens to disrupt China’s $128 billion pork industry. The presence of the virus in commercial, backyard and wild pigs, as well as evidence that infected animals have entered food supply chains.
The virus can survive for a month in pepperoni and salami, for 140 days in Iberian cured pork products and for 399 days in Parma hams, scientists found. That means pigs can become infected if they eat contaminated food scraps.
“In the end, there is not much anybody can do to stop it,” said Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary medicine and life sciences at City University of Hong Kong. “They are trying the best they can,” he said
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/11/30/killer-pig-virus-nears-major-china-cities-as-spread-quickens.html
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Pigs are being fed pig scraps? Did i read that correctly?