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China Says Rush to Boost Pork Supplies Raises Risk of Outbreaks

China Says Rush to Boost Pork Supplies Raises Risk of Outbreaks

(Bloomberg) -- China’s race to boost pork supplies by increasing hog breeding has raised the risks of worsening the swine fever crisis, the government said.

The African swine fever situation “is still severe and complex,” Vice Agriculture Minister Yu Kangzhen said during a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. “The risk of outbreaks will rise with the rapid increase in the number of live hogs.”

The rare show of candor by the Chinese government on a disease that’s roiled the industry follows months of comments tamping down speculation that the situation was out of control. It also affirms concerns that restocking herds when the disease is endemic could further delay a recovery.

Winter and spring is the high season for animal diseases including swine fever, and “the risk of spreading the virus will rise greatly” with more live pigs and pork products being distributed nationwide before Lunar New Year, Yu said. Chinese new year, the country’s peak pork consuming season, falls on Jan. 25 this year.

The government is adjusting its treatment plan for swine fever, including holding training sessions for farmers on prevention, in an effort to stop a rebound of the virus, Yu said.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Niu Shuping in Beijing at nshuping@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anna Kitanaka at akitanaka@bloomberg.net, James Poole

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

With assistance from Bloomberg