ASF China: Large farm in Jiangsu hit; virus reaches Gansu

Gansu province is located in Central China. The place where the ASF outbreak was reported from is at about 1,000 km from the sea. Illustration: 123RF

In China, the 1st week of 2019 appeared quiet with regard to African Swine Fever reports. Last weekend, however, a large herd in Jiangsu province with almost 69,000 pigs was reported hit as well as a new province: Gansu.

The outbreak in Jiangsu province was confirmed at 2 farms belonging to 1 company in Shuyang County, according to a report by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). At the facility, that allegedly had 68,969 pigs, in total, 2,452 animals were found infected with African Swine Fever. The ministry stated that 1,369 pigs had died of the disease.

Jiangsu province had already been declared free from ASF as the province did not report any further outbreaks after 2 reports in August.

First-ever ASF outbreak in Gansu

In inland Gansu province, ASF was reported for the 1^st time this weekend, MARA reported. That occurred on a relatively small farm with 109 pigs near Qingyang City. In total 44 animals were found to be infected, of which 9 had died. The nearest known previous outbreak was 200 km to the south, near Xi’an.

Total count of outbreaks and victims

The total count of outbreaks is now at 106 in China, spread out over 26 provinces. According to the latest figures of the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in total more than 850,000 pigs have been culled in an attempt to halt further spread. On top of that, Taiwan reported 1 dead pig with ASF that was found on the shores of Kinmen Island. Most likely this animal was dumped in mainland China and then washed ashore at Kinmen.