China reports new African swine fever cases

BEIJING -- China has confirmed new outbreaks of African swine fever in the northern province of Shaanxi and southern province of Guizhou, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Monday.

On a farm in Shenmu City, a county-level city of Shaanxi, 19 pigs were confirmed infected with the viral disease and all were dead, the ministry said, citing a China Animal Disease Control Center report.

Outbreaks were also found in the Baiyun district of Guiyang city, where five pigs have been infected and confirmed dead, it said.

A team was dispatched to Shaanxi and Guizhou immediately, and local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, cull and disinfect the affected pigs.

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