African swine fever under control in China: ministry

BEIJING -- China's African swine fever outbreaks have been effectively controlled, while the supply of alternatives such as poultry meat increased, the country's agricultural ministry said Monday.

A total of 137 cases of African swine fever had been reported in China as of June 16. Of the cases, 38 occurred this year, with a significant drop on a monthly basis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

At present, 26 provincial-level regions have lifted the blockade of the affected areas, and the transportation order of live pigs has been gradually restored.

Production of poultry and other pork substitutes accelerated, with chicken production rising 16.1 percent year-on-year in the first five months, the ministry said.

The revitalization of the dairy industry was advanced, with milk production increasing by 5.3 percent during the same period.

Aquatic products reported sufficient supply, and the total output of aquatic products during the Jan.-May period stood at 21.45 million tonnes, roughly unchanged from the same period last year, the ministry said.

African swine fever is believed to infect only pigs, and no humans or other species have been infected.

China reported its first case of the disease in August 2018 in the northeastern province of Liaoning. Later outbreaks were reported in several other provincial regions.