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Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said all pigs in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be culled after a sample taken from a pig at the slaughterhouse tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.
The pig concerned was imported from a Guangdong pig farm, and the Centre for Food Safety is investigating the source of the virus infection.
Prof Chan chaired an inter-departmental meeting to discuss the response action and follow-up work after the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department confirmed that “In order to minimise the risk of ASF virus spreading from the slaughterhouse, all pigs in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be culled so that thorough cleansing and also disinfection could be conducted. The operation of the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be suspended until the completion of the disinfection work.”
According to Chan, “we envisage that fresh pork supply will be reduced in the near future. However, as Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouse is not affected and will operate as normal, there will still be a limited supply of live pigs available to the market.”
At a meeting between Under Secretary for Food & Health Chui Tak-yi, and live pig buyers and meat trade representatives, three points were agreed on:
- starting the culling and disinfection process as soon as possible that will be completed in one week
- the Government will also communicate with the Mainland's General Administration of Customs and co-operate with the buyers and traders to resume the live pig supply to Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouse as soon as possible
- it was agreed that the Government will continue to discuss with the pig trade, refining the scope of the live pig cull at the slaughterhouse in case ASF is detected again.
Friday May 10, 2019/ News Gov/ Hong Kong.
https://www.news.gov.hk
