China's Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday warned the country's
pig breeders that they are entering the peak season for the highly
pathogenic blue-ear disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and
Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), which has already killed 18,000 pigs
this year.
Between January and May, 45,000 pigs contracted the disease, but
a ministry source failed to specify what provinces and regions had
reported outbreaks. Earlier reports said south China's Guangdong
Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had reported
outbreaks.
The source said 12 factories are producing new-type vaccines for
the disease, under the supervision of China's Veterinary Medicine
Supervisory Institution.
The ministry has instructed PRRS-affected regions to implement
all disease control measures and prevent the infection from
spreading.
Pig breeders have been ordered to establish a nationwide
immunization system, which covers disinfection and proper treatment
of dead animals and of their excrement.
The ministry has also implemented a complete ban on the sale,
transport and processing of pigs that have died from the
disease.
It is also establishing a central monitoring system for signs of
PRRS virus mutations, which should be completed by the end of
June.
The ministry has dispatched inspection teams to supervise
disease control and prevention work.
The outbreaks have contributed to rising pork prices in some
areas. It is believed the price hikes will help raise the country's
consumer price index, or CPI, to a new high for May.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)