The government of Hong Kong has culled over 970 pigs at a farm in Yuen Long district after the samples of pigs from a licensed pig farm in Lau Fau Shan tested positive for the African swine fever (ASF) virus.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has launched the operation at the affected licensed farm since December 19 after samples tested positive on December 17. A total of 978 pigs has been culled and handled as of December 23.
Following the culling of all pigs on the farm, the AFCD will arrange thorough cleaning and disinfection of the farm.
Authorities have notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) of the incident. An epidemiological investigation in collaboration with Mainland and international experts is underway to prevent and control further spread of the ASF virus.
AFCD has also arranged veterinary inspections of one operating pig farm within 3km of the index farm last week. As all samples of the farm have tested negative for the ASF virus, it has resumed the relevant procedures for the farm to transport pigs to slaughterhouses.
The AFCD stressed that ASF is not a zoonotic disease and will not infect humans; hence, it does not present any food safety risk. Pork cooked thoroughly is safe for consumption.
Collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
In view of the current ASF case, the AFCD has been liaising closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
The relevant departments have immediately ceased the collection of livestock wastes from the index farm, enhanced cleansing of the nearby public roads around the index farm, and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected relevant animal carcass collection points and animal carcass collection vehicles, as well as adjusted the routine animal carcass collection routes, to minimize the risk of spread of ASF.
Moreover, the AFCD has conducted joint inspections and investigations at the index farm with experts and collected environmental samples for further analysis, with an aim to understand the potential cause and source of ASF infection.
Advice on optimizing biosecurity measures and farm management have also been provided to support the industry in further preventing and controlling ASF.
Meeting with pig farm operators
The AFCD held a meeting with licensed pig farm operators recently to remind them to ensure proper implementation of good biosecurity measures and alert the Department immediately if any abnormal health condition is observed in pigs.
Meanwhile, the AFCD personnel will continue to inspect all local licensed pig farms to ensure good biosecurity measures have been properly implemented.
Surveillance of the activities of wild pigs in the vicinity of the index farm has also been stepped up.
A series of preventive measures
Apart from the measures mentioned above, the AFCD has been maintaining close communication with Mainland and international veterinary experts and has implemented a series of preventive measures based on their advice, including:
- 🐖 The AFCD has revised the license conditions for pig farms, requiring local pig farms of high infection risk to properly implement biosecurity requirements specified by the Department. The AFCD will provide technical assistance to pig farms concerned to prevent and control ASF.
- 🐖 The AFCD has invited an expert on ASF prevention and control to provide training to local pig farmers in November this year to facilitate prompt implementation and strict observation of the biosecurity measures specific to their pig farms, thereby effectively containing the spread of ASF on local pig farms on different levels.
- 🐖 To strengthen the knowledge of local pig farmers about the clinical signs of ASF for early detection and reporting of abnormalities in pigs, the AFCD has launched the Guidelines for Reporting Cases of African Swine Fever to assist pig farmers in identifying suspected cases for early reporting and to take appropriate follow-up.
- 🐖 The AFCD staff have been distributing ASF rapid test kits to all local pig farms to assist them in enhancing testing.
- 🐖 The AFCD staff are keeping close communication with pig farmers to update them on the latest situation of ASF.