Rising pork prices have brought attention to the pig health crisis in China. Over 46,000 pigs in 22 provinces have been infected with “Blue Ear” disease, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, this year. Chinese health agencies are working to find a vaccine, but the Voice of America contends that the Chinese government has been slow to respond to the spreading disease.
From Voice of America:
China’s top veterinarian Jia Youling told reporters the highly pathogenic disease, “Blue Ear,” is to blame for most of the pig deaths last year. . .Up to a million pigs died last year from the disease. . . But it had mutated in China, making it hard to identify and becoming more deadly to pigs.
“This variation of Blue Ear disease is a completely new variation,” said Jia. “It is the first time our country and the world has experienced this kind of the disease.” [Full Text]
See also the Xinhua article on the pig disease.
