Reply from the head of the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on the occurrence of African swine fever in Shenbei New District, Shenyang

On August 3, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released the epidemic information that an African swine plague occurred in Shenbei New District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. It is understood that this is the case of African swine fever in China. On the current situation of prevention and control of swine plague in Africa, the reporter interviewed the head of the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Reporter: You are very concerned about the occurrence of African swine fever in Shenbei New District, Shenyang City, and you are unfamiliar with African swine fever, an animal epidemic. Can you briefly introduce African swine fever?

Person in charge: African swine fever is an acute, hot and highly contagious animal infectious disease of domestic pigs and wild pigs caused by African swine fever virus. Pigs of all breeds and ages can be infected, and the incidence rate and mortality can reach. The World Organization for Animal Health has listed it as a legally reported animal epidemic, and China has listed it as a Class I animal epidemic. In 1921, Kenya reported the outbreak of African swine fever, which was introduced to Europe in the 1960s, South America in the 1970s, and Caucasus and Russia in 2007. Since 2017, several African swine epidemics have occurred in the Far East of Russia. The disease is now prevalent in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Direct contact between healthy pigs and infected pigs or pollutants is the main route of transmission of African swine fever. Pigs bitten by vector insects such as ticks may also be infected with African swine fever.

Reporter: Can people be infected with African swine fever?

Person in charge: African swine fever is not pathogenic to humans, it is not a zoonotic infectious disease, that is, the virus will not infect humans.

Reporter: What are the main hazards of swine fever in Africa?

Person in charge: African swine fever is very harmful to pig production. It is understood that the incidence rate is usually between 40% and 85%, and the mortality rate varies with different strains of infection. The mortality of highly pathogenic strains can be as high as 90 -; The mortality rate of moderately pathogenic strains in adult animals is between 20% and 40%, and that in young animals is between 70% and 80%; The mortality of low pathogenic strains is between 10% and 30%.

China is a big country in pig breeding and product consumption. The breeding and stock of pigs account for more than half of the global total. At the same time, pork is the main source of meat protein for residents, and the consumption of pork accounts for more than 60% of the total meat consumption. In addition, the scale of pig breeding is low, and the frequency and quantity of pig transportation are high. If it spreads in China, it will cause immeasurable losses to China's pig breeding industry.

Reporter: What has China done to deal with swine fever in Africa?

Person in charge: Since the disease was introduced into Russia in 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has issued the Technical Specifications for the Prevention and Control of Swine Fever in Africa (for Trial Implementation) and the Emergency Plan for the Epidemic Situation of Swine Fever in Africa, organized and carried out emergency drills in high-risk areas such as northern border provinces, and carried out monitoring nationwide for many consecutive years. In 2017, after the outbreak of African swine fever in Irkutsk, the Far East region of Russia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs immediately issued the "Emergency Notice on Further Strengthening the Risk Prevention of African Swine Fever", requiring all regions to be highly alert to the epidemic risk and effectively do a good job in risk prevention.

Recently, after the suspected African swine fever occurred in Shenbei New District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs immediately coordinated the China Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology (Research Center for Exotic Animal Epidemics) to carry out diagnosis work, and sent a working group to the local area to guide the handling and screening of the epidemic. At present, the local authorities have slaughtered and harmless pigs in the epidemic area, issued a blockade order on the epidemic area, and suspended the transfer of pigs from Shenyang. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has also informed international organizations of the situation of the African swine plague. Other relevant work is being carried out urgently and orderly in accordance with the requirements of the Emergency Plan and the Technical Specifications for Prevention and Control.

Reporter: How should pig farms do a good job in the prevention and control of swine fever in Africa?

Person in charge: Since there is no vaccine that can effectively prevent African swine fever in the world, but high temperature and disinfectants can effectively kill the virus, the key to prevent and control African swine fever is to do a good job in the biological safety protection of farms.

First, strictly control personnel, vehicles and vulnerable animals entering the farm; Personnel, vehicles and articles entering and leaving the farm and its production area shall be strictly disinfected.

The second is to close the breeding of live pigs as much as possible, take isolation and protection measures, and try to avoid contact with wild pigs and soft ticks.

Third, it is forbidden to feed pigs with swill or leftover garbage.

Fourth, actively cooperate with the local animal epidemic prevention and control institutions to carry out epidemic monitoring and screening, especially in the case of failure of immunization against swine fever vaccine and death of unknown causes, which should be reported to the local veterinary department in time.