China announces African swine fever outbreak in Guizhou Province followed by Fujian

China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in Guizhou Province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The outbreak was found in a farm of 156 pigs in Longli county, among which 42 were confirmed to have died from the disease, the ministry said, citing a China Animal Disease Control Center report.

African swine fever is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects pigs but not humans or other animals. Hence, the local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, cull and disinfect the affected pigs, Xinhua noted. China reported its first case of the disease in August in Liaoning Province. Later outbreaks were reported in many other provincial regions.

China also previously confirmed outbreak of African swine fever in Fujian province on Thursday, December 20. The country reported the spreading of highly contagious disease through the world's largest hog herd. The outbreak in Sanming city in Fujian killed 27 animals on a farm of 11,950 pigs, according to the statement released by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.