Chinese scientists have managed to detail the structure of the virus that causes the disease which has been ravaging the country's pig stocks. African swine fever is a fatal and contagious disease that has decimated hog herds across the world. The scientific breakthrough offers clues into how the virus attacks host cells while evading the immune systems of infected pigs. It will also inform future research into developing an effective vaccine. The research team said related vaccines are now awaiting approval for trials from authorities. China, the world's largest pork producer, has reported 157 outbreaks of the fever, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The fever first broke out in August in the northeastern province of Liaoning.