There are currently around 43 hog farms in Hong Kong (Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Image)
In a decade by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Hong Kong’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (AFCD) last week confirmed the first local case of African swine fever.
The virus was detected in six animals on a Hong Kong farm, and AFCD ordered the slaughter of 240 pigs that shared the same shed as the infected animals. In addition, it has prohibited the marketing and movement of pigs from three more farms, which are within a 3 km radius of the infected farm.
While samples taken from animals on these farms showed no abnormalities, Attach said AFCD resolved to increase inspections on all Hong Kong farms and track the origin of the virus.
According to the attachment, this news had no noticeable effect on consumer confidence in pork safety. The supply of live animals from other farms and China has not been affected and the largest local slaughterhouses operate normally.
There are currently around 43 hog farms in Hong Kong, accounting for 15% of the supply of live animals in the administrative region. In May 2019, Hong Kong detected two cases of African swine fever at the largest local slaughterhouse. Both animals were imported from China. This resulted in 10,000 pigs being killed.
Since then, the Hong Kong government has not allowed live animals to live in the slaughterhouse for more than 24 hours. The purpose of this measure is to enable thorough cleaning and disinfection daily, allowing the site to continue operating normally when the disease is detected.
