Arrr! Avast ye! In the wake o' the deadly swine fever, Hong Kong be set to send 900 pigs to Davy Jones' locker!
2023-12-09
Arr, the scurvy-ridden swines in Hong Kong be infected with the cursed African swine fever! The authorities be commandin' the slaughter of o'er 900 pigs from a licensed farmin' land. Walk the plank, ye disease-ridden swabs!
In Hong Kong, over 900 pigs are set to be culled after the presence of African swine fever (ASF) was detected at a licensed farm. Out of 30 tested pigs, 19 were found to have swine fever. The transportation of pigs from the farm has been suspended and the culling will begin next week. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also planned to inspect other pig farms within a three-kilometer radius and collect samples for ASF testing. Authorities have reassured the public that thoroughly cooked pork is safe for consumption and there is no risk of transmission to humans.African swine fever is a deadly disease for pigs and can cause fatalities within a week of infection. While it does not harm humans, it can have severe consequences for the pig population. The disease has not been reported in the United States, but if it were detected there, it could affect approximately 76 million domestic pigs in the country.
This recent culling in Hong Kong follows the culling of 5,600 pigs at a farm near the China border last month. Italy has also culled nearly 34,000 pigs to combat the spread of ASF. The disease has spread to several European countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia. It has also affected the pork market globally and caused significant losses in China, where about half of the domestic pig population died.
Last year, Vietnam developed the first vaccine against African swine fever, which was co-developed with researchers from the United States. The vaccine has been shipped to the Philippines as well. Meanwhile, another strain of swine flu, H1N2, was detected in the United Kingdom and the United States.
This news highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the global pig industry in controlling the spread of diseases and protecting the pig population.