BEIJING — China has reported a new outbreak of African swine fever that is threating the country’s vital pork industry. First detected in August, the disease has killed more than 1 million pigs in China, prompting restrictions on shipments of most of China’s 700 million swine, even healthy ones. African swine fever doesn’t affect humans but is highly contagious in pigs. It wasn’t clear how the virus reached China, but it was found to be genetically similar to versions in Russia, Poland and Georgia. The outbreak could cause longer-term disruption if farmers respond to lower prices and higher costs by raising fewer pigs, leading to shortages and higher prices.

Source: National Post February 09, 2019 03:33 UTC