'No way to stop it': millions of pigs culled across Asia as swine fever spreads

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

'No way to stop it': millions of pigs culled across Asia as swine fever spreads

Experts say region is losing the battle to stop the biggest animal disease outbreak the planet has ever faced

Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Bangkok
Thu 6 Jun 2019 01.59 BST Last modified on Thu 6 Jun 2019 02.05 BST

South-east Asia is battling to contain the spread of highly contagious African swine fever, known as “pig Ebola”, which has already led to the culling of millions of pigs in China and Vietnam.

African swine fever, which is harmless to humans but fatal to pigs, was discovered in China in August, where it has caused havoc, leading to more than 1.2m pigs being culled. China is home to almost half of the world’s pigs and the news sent the global price of pork soaring.

There is no vaccination for African swine fever, which causes pigs to internally haemorrhage until they die, so the only option to contain the disease is to kill any contaminated animals. Some estimates say that in China up to 200m animals may eventually be slaughtered. The virus can last for several weeks on anything from clothes to vehicles, allowing for it to easily travel long distances.

It has spread like wildfire across Asia, causing growing devastation to the pig farmers of Vietnam and Cambodia and putting Thailand, Asia’s second-biggest pork producer, on “red alert”. Cases have increased in Mongolia, North Korea and Hong Kong in recent weeks, while South Korea is blood testing pigs at the border.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/06/millions-of-pigs-culled-across-asia-african-swine-fever-spreads-thailand-

[msongs]

1. human beings have zero need to associate with pigs, wild or domestic. here' our reward for doing so

[Harker]

2. This is what comes of exploiting other species.

Poor creatures.

[democratisphere]

3. What a waste. The spread of this virus is caused by HUMAN activity and

a complete lack of actions to control it. Idiots.

[customerserviceguy]

4. This may save US farmers

If China is not importing soybeans, which they use to feed pigs, our farmers may very well use cheap soybeans to raise pork to export to nations hungry for it.

[RockRaven]

5. China is by far the largest pork consumer on the planet. The tariff issue just became

a lot more interesting and complicated. As you point out, all those countries in the region may be looking to import pork, which may help out US farmers by giving hog producers an expanded market... but the China angle is particularly interesting...

How will the Xi/CCP react to this vis-a-vis American imports. Will they prioritize a) not showing weakness to Trump or b) domestic stability? Domestic stability is usually the top priority, and pork is an important staple, somewhat equivalent to the position beef holds in the US. Large price increases and/or scarcity will cause unease amongst the public for one reason and government officials because of the former.

We could sell more hogs directly to China if they're willing to look like they are weak to Trump,
or we could sell more feed to Country A so they can sell more hogs to China,
or we could sell more hogs to Country B so they can sell more of their own domestic hogs to China
or we could sell more hogs to Country C so they can falsely relabel them as their own and sell them to China...

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. the largest pork company in America now belongs to the Chinese, btw

Smithfield Farms was a major pork company, contracting out to a lot of farmers.
Chinese bought it a few years back.
The US subsidiary of that Chinese owned farm got many millions in subsidies from Trump's farmer bailout.
So did the US subsidiary of the Brazilian beef? farms, the one we all heard about run by 2 brothers.
They used the 6 billion subsidy money to bribe politicians in Brazil.

[Ghost Dog]

11. Unless this virus spreads to the US, and elsewhere...

"The virus can last for several weeks on anything from clothes to vehicles, allowing for it to easily travel long distances."

[MFM008]

6. I have become

A vegan.
Its not easy.
You get little support.
But i feel much better
Physically but its very freeing emotionally.

[customerserviceguy]

8. This thread is in Foreign Affairs

not in the vegan/vegetarian group.

The posts of crusading vegan/vegetarians are like the Christian fundies who show up at a Pete Buttigieg rally, and tell him to "repent".

[MFM008]

9. This was in response to culling

Millions of pigs as posted.
I dont care what anyone else eats or does.
This was because of MY clogging arteries
I dont crusade and i dont preach.
As you can see by my post count i do
Know how to use this site.
But thanks anyway.🙄🤔

[customerserviceguy]

10. Then

stick to your tofu, and let those of us who want to discuss the foreign affairs aspects of eating pigs without hearing about how your life is so much more serene for deciding not to eat them.

[MFM008]

12. .............