NORTHEAST China’s Liaoning Province has culled 8,116 pigs in response to an outbreak of African swine fever, the provincial animal health and production bureau said yesterday.

Earlier this month, an outbreak of African swine fever was discovered on a farm in the provincial capital Shenyang. It was China’s first outbreak of African swine fever.

The outbreak is currently under control, with no new cases discovered. No cases of the African swine fever were reported in other cities in the province.

Investigation showed that the farm purchased 45 pigs from a farmer surnamed Wang in early July. Pig feces samples from Wang’s farm tested positive for the virus.

Liaoning has adopted measures such as suspending the transport of pigs from Shenyang to other parts of China, culling pigs in infected areas, and suspending the feeding of pigs with kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food.

African swine fever is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects pigs. It does not affect humans or other animal species. (Xinhua)