US seizes about 450,000kg of pork from China to battle spread of African swine fever
- China, home to the world’s largest hog herd, has reported 112 outbreaks of the highly contagious disease in 28 provinces and regions since August
US border agents have seized around 450,000kg (1 million pounds) of pork from China, a spokesman for the agency said on Friday, over suspicions that it might contain African swine flu disease which has hit Chinese pork output.
Federal agents have seized the supplies over the past week in New York.
“The seizure was in an effort to battle the spread of African swine fever,” Anthony L. Bucci, Public Affairs Specialist at U. S. Customs and Border Protection, said in an email.
Asked if the seized pork had African swine fever, Bucci said, “This is an ongoing investigation,” and added that the federal agents were working with US Department of Agriculture on the issue.
China, home to the world’s largest hog herd, has reported 112 outbreaks of the highly contagious disease in 28 provinces and regions since August, with the vast majority found on farms, with one at a slaughterhouse.