The first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China was reported on Friday, August 3, reported the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The virus was reportedly first identified on August 1: The outbreak was located in the northeast part of the country, in the city Shenyang, district of Shenbei New, in the province Liaoning, SHIC said in a news release. This is a swine dense area 130 miles (208km) of the North Korean border. “Infection on a small farm with a herd of 383 pigs, where 47 pigs died from the disease, was confirmed by China Animal Health and Epidemiolology Center on Friday August 3, 11 a.m., local time,” SHIC reported. SHIC noted that the Chinese Center For Disease Control and Prevention officially reports a level two outbreak, and “it has been contained with the slaughter of a herd of close to 1,000 pigs,” the center reported. “The transport of pigs in and out of the area has been banned, along with the feeding of untreated food waste,” SHIC stated. In the event of a major outbreak, the Chinese Center for Disease Control (CCDC) said that provincial veterinary authorities in the affected provinces will “immediately launch a working day reporting system for the prevention and control of ASF, and suspend the transfer of live pigs and related products from the affected counties and districts.” Relevant provinces are required to carry out emergency epidemiological investigation, according to the CCDC. All relevant departments are working together to prevent and control the epidemic, “in accordance with their respective responsibilities.” Thousands of miles from any known case of ASF, the introduction into China is a major concern, SHIC stated. It said the way that this disease was introduced is unknown, "but it is indicative that this disease can travel long distances, not only in infected pigs but also by contaminated food, feed, with international travelers, and other articles." Officials noted there is major concern about ASF spreading further in the Chinese pig herd, and potentially to Japan, the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia. Source - https://www.porkbusiness.com