On August 23, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the blue-ear epidemic has been brought under control in China, thanks to a series of measures taken by the Chinese Government in recent months. These measures consist of the production of vaccine for swine, close scrutiny of the mutated virus across the country, and the establishment of a reporting mechanism.
According to the ministry, the central government has pledged 280 million yuan ($36.5 million) to fund vaccinations for swine at various pig farms nationwide. China successfully developed a vaccine for the new variant in 90 days, and approved 11 companies to produce the vaccine since May. Now the country has a daily production capacity of 7-10 million ml of newly developed vaccine, and 314 million ml of the vaccine has immunized more than 100 million pigs by August 22, said the ministry's spokesman Xue Liang.
Xue added that as of August 22, there have been 826 outbreaks of blue-ear disease in 26 provinces so far this year. The disease afflicted 257,000 pigs, killing 68,000 and causing the culling of 175,000. The spread of the virus was halted within the vicinity of the outbreak itself. In July, although 47,000 pigs were afflicted and 13,000 killed, the figure dropped by 51.5 percent and 35.9 percent respectively compared with June.
Some farmers immunize pigs against new strains with older vaccines, as they have no access to the newly developed one. According to the Ministry, since August, the cost for vaccinating livestock against major diseases such as blue ear and swine fever, is to be shared evenly by central and local finance departments.
. Wang Zhicai, Head of the Animal Husbandry Department of the ministry, said that a survey conducted indicated that the number of pigs was on the rise, and that of sows was increasing by 2.1 percent year on year. In addition, many pig-breeding households have developed into large pig farms, and the number of farmers increased from 43 percent last year to 50 percent in July 2007.
Yang Wen, a villager who has raised nearly 1,000 pigs in Weihui, Henan Province, is one among these farmers. From a paltry beginning of a few dozen pigs to his current 1,000 heads, he has come a long way. China's pig output declined markedly last year due to animal-borne diseases, rising grain prices and low pork prices. Some of Yang's pigs died last year from high fever. This year all his pigs are healthy, thanks to disease-control measures implemented by the government, and the fact that he uses only the best corn to feed his pigs.
Zhang Zhongqiu, Director of the Division of Animal Disease Prevention and Control, said that blue-ear disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), was first discovered in the United States in 1987 and spread to many countries including Canada, Germany, Britain, and France. It reached China in the mid-1990s.
Between June to September last year, China discovered a more virulent form of the disease, and identified it as the mutated highly pathogenic blue-ear disease this year. The virus had mutated and caused higher mortality rates. The ministry strengthened inspection and epidemiological surveys, with the aim of getting to the root of the epidemic and detecting the next one in time. The quarantining of pigs is carried out methodically in the event of an epidemic, and emergency telephone numbers are available at all the relevant centers nationwide. China is also making vaccination compulsory for pigs all over. Agricultural Minister Sun Zhengcai proposed recently that all vulnerable swine be vaccinated by the end of November. Dead pigs are dealt with in a way harmless to the local environment.
Li Jinxiang, an official with the ministry, said that China has constantly promoted cooperation and exchanges with related international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Animal Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The Ministry of Agriculture has provided regular updates about the disease to the FAO and WOAH since it was detected, said Jia Youling, Chief Veterinary Officer with the ministry. China has twice reported infections to the FAO after pigs in Yunfu, in the southern province of Guangdong, caught the virus. This has prevented unnecessary suspicion and misunderstanding, and helped the international community understand the situation, said Jia.
Furthermore, China has invited international experts to inspect disease-hit areas, and also sent Chinese professionals to participate in related international meetings to analyze and discuss current animal epidemic control and prevention. In addition, China has provided assistance to other countries such as Viet Nam, Korea, India and Egypt by exporting or offering vaccines for bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease.