ASF update: China outbreaks hit 11 – pork prices rise

The latest report that arrived at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is about an outbreak at a backyard farm in the city Jiamusi near the border with Russia. The transport of infected pigs that was eventually discovered in Henan province on August 14, originated from this town.

What does China’s pork supply chain look like?

The ASF virus has been travelling far

The confirmation of ASF in Heilongjiang means that it has been confirmed that the virus has travelled over 3,000 kilometres in China alone. Just over a month ago, ASF was unknown in the whole of Asia.

The province that has been reporting most outbreaks so far, has been Anhui province, where 5 of the 11 outbreaks were found. Especially around the city Xuancheng, 3 farms have been found infected. Also outbreaks were found in Wuhu and – very recently – in Chuzhou, according to the OIE.

Transportation of pigs and pork has been banned

As a consequence of the growing number of outbreaks, transportation of pigs and pork has been banned in infected provinces. The shortage or expected problems can lead to pork price increases, reports Reuters. For instance, in Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai, prices have gone up to 18 yuan/kg, where they used to be 14 yuan/kg last week.

Nevertheless, the Chinese authorities have indicated that the effect of ASF on the country’s pork supply and sales will be limited. China’s state radio reported that there will only be a short-term impact on pork prices, according to Reuters.

All in all, now almost 40,000 pigs have been culled, according to the data supplied to the OIE.

Also read this Expert Opinion: 20 Reasons why Asia has to fear ASF

FAO: emergency meeting over ASF in China

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has organised an emergency meeting over the ASF outbreaks in China, with 10 countries being present. The meeting is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, for 3 days. Realising that the Chinese outbreaks form a threat for the whole of Asia, the FAO invited participants from Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Wantanee Kalpravidh, regional manager of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases in Asia, said: “It’s critical that this region be ready for the very real possibility that ASF could jump the border into other countries.”