China confirms first cases of African swine fever

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The first cases of African swine fever in China were confirmed Friday in Shenyang, the capital of northeastern Liaoning Province, the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced in a statement.

The outbreak was first reported on Wednesday when 47 infected pigs were found dead in a local pig farm.

Nearly 1,000 hogs have since been slaughtered or disinfected in Shenyang.

The local sanitation and anti-epidemic department also rolled out swift measures to limit the spread of the potential threat by isolating the affected area, and carried out precautionary procedures in nearby residential areas.

Transportation of livestock in or out of the quarantined area has been banned, and pig farms in have also been thoroughly inspected.

The outbreak is now under control, the ministry said.

African swine fever is a highly deadly infectious disease among pigs and wild boars. It cannot however be transmitted to humans and other animal species are also not susceptible to the viral disease.

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