UN calls emergency meeting over African swine fever as China confirms ninth case

The United Nations has called an emergency meeting of animal disease experts amid fears African swine fever (ASF) is set to sweep through Asia and devastate pig farming.

China on Wednesday confirmed its ninth case of the highly infectious disease since it was first spotted in the country a month ago and neighbouring nations are now braced for its spread.

Around 38,000 animals have been culled in the world's largest pork producer as health officials try to halts the spread of a viral haemorrhagic fever which is often fatal to pigs.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has already warned the disease may spread to other countries. The disease is not harmful to humans, but there is no known vaccine for pigs and the main preventative measure is culling.

"It's critical that this region be ready for the very real possibility that ASF could jump the border into other countries," the FAO's Wantanee Kalpravidh said.

"That's why this emergency meeting has been convened – to assess where we are now and to determine how we can work together in a co-ordinated, regional response."

Epidemiologists and animal health experts from China's neighbours are taking part in the meeting in Bangkok.

China's most recent case was announced in northeastern Heilongjiang province, with 12 pigs dead and another 39 infected.

The China outbreak is the first time the disease has been detected in east Asia.

Spread by ticks, direct contact between pigs, contaminated food and animal feed, it is devastating to herds.

Pork products could be responsible for the spread rather than live animals, the FAO has said.

The first case in China was spotted in only early August, but herds have already been affected hundreds of miles apart. - The Telegraph

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