Indonesia has reported an outbreak of African Swine fever on its islands near Singapore. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the flu has killed 35,000 pigs in a herd of 285,000. For more, watch the video.

Indonesia confirms African Swine Fever outbreak

After Indian state Mizoram, an outbreak of African swine disease has been recorded in the Kanchanpur sub-division of the North Tripura district, with three of 87 samples proving positive for the virus.

Following the epidemic, K Shashi Kumar, the head of the animal resource development department, ordered that all pigs within a 1-kilometre radius of the epicentre be slaughtered, and a 10-kilometre zone be monitored.&nbsp;

“Three of 87 samples of pigs tested positive for African swine fever. We’ll cull all pigs within 1km from the epicentre and declare the 10km area as a surveillance zone. We’ve issued notification and begun the culling process,” he said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hog-hotel-10000-pigs-kept-in-high-security-building-in-china-to-keep-out-swine-flu-other-viruses-402398">Also read | 'Hog hotel': 10,000 pigs kept in high-security building in China to keep out swine flu, other viruses</a> 
&nbsp;

What is African Swine Fever (ASF)?

A viral disease that affects pigs is known as African Swine Fever (ASF).

ASF is thought to spread quickly and has a near-100 per cent case fatality rate.

Direct contact with an infected or wild pig (alive or dead), indirect contact through consumption of contaminated food or waste, or even biological vectors such as ticks are all ways for the virus to spread.

According to health experts, the ASF outbreak poses no risk to human health and cannot be passed from pigs to humans biologically.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-swine-fever-in-china-is-likely-caused-by-illicit-vaccines-358469">Also read | Why swine fever in China is likely caused by illicit vaccines</a>

Cases in Mizoram

On March 21, the first incidence of an ASF epidemic was recorded in the Lungsen village of south Mizoram.

It is located in the district of Lunglei, which is near the Bangladesh border.

In mid-April, the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal determined that the ASF was the cause of the pig deaths.

Throughout the last five months, the illness has claimed the lives of almost 25,000 pigs in the state.

Since late March, the deaths of so many pigs had resulted in a loss of about Rs 1.21 billion.

To prevent the spread of disease, state officials had to authorise the culling of nearly 9,500 pigs, according to a senior official from the state animal husbandry and veterinary science department.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After Indian state Mizoram, an outbreak of African swine disease has been recorded in the Kanchanpur sub-division of the North Tripura district, with three of 87 samples proving positive for the virus.

After Indian state Mizoram, an outbreak of African swine disease has been recorded in the Kanchanpur sub-division of the North Tripura district, with three of 87 samples proving positive for the virus. Following the epidemic, K Shashi Kumar, the head of the animal resource development department, ordered that all pigs within a 1-kilometre radius of the epicentre be slaughtered, and a 10-kilometre zone be monitored. “Three of 87 samples of pigs tested positive for African swine fever. We’ll cull all pigs within 1km from the epicentre and declare the 10km area as a surveillance zone. We’ve issued notification and begun the culling process,” he said. Also read | 'Hog hotel': 10,000 pigs kept in high-security building in China to keep out swine flu, other viruses What is African Swine Fever (ASF)? A viral disease that affects pigs is known as African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF is thought to spread quickly and has a near-100 per cent case fatality rate. Direct contact with an infected or wild pig (alive or dead), indirect contact through consumption of contaminated food or waste, or even biological vectors such as ticks are all ways for the virus to spread. According to health experts, the ASF outbreak poses no risk to human health and cannot be passed from pigs to humans biologically. Also read | Why swine fever in China is likely caused by illicit vaccines Cases in Mizoram On March 21, the first incidence of an ASF epidemic was recorded in the Lungsen village of south Mizoram. It is located in the district of Lunglei, which is near the Bangladesh border. In mid-April, the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal determined that the ASF was the cause of the pig deaths. Throughout the last five months, the illness has claimed the lives of almost 25,000 pigs in the state. Since late March, the deaths of so many pigs had resulted in a loss of about Rs 1.21 billion. To prevent the spread of disease, state officials had to authorise the culling of nearly 9,500 pigs, according to a senior official from the state animal husbandry and veterinary science department. (With inputs from agencies)

African swine fever: After Mizoram, disease sets foot in Tripura, culling of pigs begins

In southern China, almost 10,000 pigs were housed in a 13-story facility with restricted access, security cameras, in-house veterinarian services, and special diets.

The goal of such 'hog hotels' is to keep pigs, China's major source of meat, free of diseases.

COVID-19 emerged two years after African swine flu killed off almost half of China's farmed pigs.&nbsp;

African swine fever, which kills pigs in the same way as Ebola kills people, produced a major epidemic in China in 2018.

Within a year, approximately half of the country's herd of more than 400 million pigs had been wiped off, amounting to more than the combined yearly output of the United States and Brazil, resulting in skyrocketing prices and unprecedented imports.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Now, a Swine Flu outbreak in China

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Despite this, the virus continues to be a concern, with 11 instances documented so far in 2021, forcing the slaughter of almost 2,000 pigs, according to China's agricultural ministry in July.

The ministry stated that the introduction of novel strains that appear to exhibit milder symptoms and have a longer incubation time is challenging attempts to detect and respond to outbreaks.&nbsp;

In August 2018, African swine fever was discovered along China's border with Russia, and it quickly spread to all 31 mainland provinces, municipalities, and autonomous areas in less than nine months.

This resulted in the mass slaughter of more than 100 million pigs, as well as a considerable increase in the price of pork, up to 50% in some circumstances.&nbsp;

Due to rising tariffs, the American agriculture industry's replacement choices were restricted as a result of the trade war with the US.

China consumed almost half of the world's pork in 2018, but more than 95 percent of it came from local sources.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In southern China, almost 10,000 pigs were housed in a 13-story facility with restricted access, security cameras, in-house veterinarian services, and special diets.

In southern China, almost 10,000 pigs were housed in a 13-story facility with restricted access, security cameras, in-house veterinarian services, and special diets. The goal of such 'hog hotels' is to keep pigs, China's major source of meat, free of diseases. COVID-19 emerged two years after African swine flu killed off almost half of China's farmed pigs. African swine fever, which kills pigs in the same way as Ebola kills people, produced a major epidemic in China in 2018. Within a year, approximately half of the country's herd of more than 400 million pigs had been wiped off, amounting to more than the combined yearly output of the United States and Brazil, resulting in skyrocketing prices and unprecedented imports. Watch | Gravitas: Now, a Swine Flu outbreak in China Despite this, the virus continues to be a concern, with 11 instances documented so far in 2021, forcing the slaughter of almost 2,000 pigs, according to China's agricultural ministry in July. The ministry stated that the introduction of novel strains that appear to exhibit milder symptoms and have a longer incubation time is challenging attempts to detect and respond to outbreaks. In August 2018, African swine fever was discovered along China's border with Russia, and it quickly spread to all 31 mainland provinces, municipalities, and autonomous areas in less than nine months. This resulted in the mass slaughter of more than 100 million pigs, as well as a considerable increase in the price of pork, up to 50% in some circumstances. Due to rising tariffs, the American agriculture industry's replacement choices were restricted as a result of the trade war with the US. China consumed almost half of the world's pork in 2018, but more than 95 percent of it came from local sources. (With inputs from agencies)

'Hog hotel': 10,000 pigs kept in high-security building in China to keep out swine flu, other viruses

A new form of African swine fever identified in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-launches-mass-testing-after-china-reports-surge-in-cases-due-to-uk-coronavirus-strain-358433"> Chinese </a>pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus.

Two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 sows on several farms owned by New Hope Liuhe, China's fourth-largest producer, as well as pigs being fattened for the firm by contract farmers, said Yan Zhichun, the company's chief science officer.

Though the strains, which are missing one or two key genes present in the wild African swine fever virus, don't kill pigs like the disease that ravaged China's farms in 2018 and 2019, they cause a chronic condition that reduces the number of healthy piglets born, Yan told Reuters. At New Hope, and many large producers, infected pigs are culled to prevent the spread, making the disease effectively fatal.

Although the known infections are limited now, if the strains spread widely, they could slash pork output in the world's top consumer and producer; two years ago, swine fever wiped out half of China's 400 million-head pig herd. Pork prices are still at record levels and China is under pressure to strengthen food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't know where they come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses," Yan said.

Wayne Johnson, a Beijing-based veterinarian, said he diagnosed a chronic, or less-lethal, form of the disease in pigs last year. The virus lacked certain genetic components, known as the MGF360 genes. New Hope has found strains of the virus missing both the MGF360 genes and the CD2v genes, Yan said.

Research has shown that deleting some MGF360 genes from African swine fever creates immunity. But the modified virus was not developed into a vaccine because it tended to later mutate back to a harmful state.

"You can sequence these things, these double deletions, and if it's exactly the same as described in the lab, it's too much of a coincidence, because you would never get that exact deletion," said Lucilla Steinaa, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi.

There is no approved vaccine for African swine fever, which is not harmful to humans. But many Chinese farmers struggling to protect their pigs have resorted to unapproved products, industry insiders and experts said. They fear illicit vaccines have created accidental infections, which are now spreading.

The new strains could proliferate globally through contaminated meat, infecting pigs that are fed on kitchen waste. The virus is known to survive for months in some pork products.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to two requests for comment.

But it has issued at least three warnings against use of unauthorised African swine fever vaccines, cautioning that they could have severe side effects and that producers and users could be charged with a criminal offence.

In August, the ministry said it would test pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use.

Any strains with gene deletions could indicate a vaccine had been used, it said. No findings have been published so far on the issue, which is highly sensitive for Beijing. Reporting of the recent African swine fever outbreaks was extensively covered up.

After decades of research toward producing a vaccine against the huge, complex swine fever virus, researchers around the world are focussing on live-virus vaccines - the only type to have shown any promise.

But such vaccines carry higher risks because even after the virus is weakened so it does not cause serious illness, it can sometimes recover its virulence.

One such vaccine used in Spain in the 1960s caused a chronic disease with swollen joints, skin lesions and respiratory issues in pigs that complicated efforts to eradicate African swine fever over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for the disease.

A vaccine with both MGF360 and CD2v genes deleted is undergoing trials by China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute after showing promise.

Yan said he believes that people have replicated the sequences of virus strains being studied, which have been published in scientific literature, and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on them could be infecting others.

"It's definitely man-made; this is not a natural strain," he said.

Neither Johnson nor Yan have fully sequenced the new swine fever strains. Beijing strictly controls who is allowed to work with the virus, which can only be handled in laboratories with high biosecurity designations.

But several private companies have developed test kits that can check for specific genes.

GM Biotech, based in China's central Hunan province, said in an online post last week it had developed a test that identifies whether the pathogen is a virulent strain, a single-gene deleted attenuated strain, or a double-gene deleted attenuated strain.

The test helps pig producers because the new strains are "very difficult to detect at the initial stage of infection and have a longer incubation period after infection," the company said.

The government has not said how widely used illicit vaccines are or who has produced them. But a "vast amount" of pigs in China have nonetheless been vaccinated, Johnson said, a sentiment echoed by many other experts.

In 2004-5, when the H5 bird flu strains were spreading across Asia, Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorised live bird flu vaccines, said Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University, who has worked on animal health in Asia, raising fears that they could produce dangerous new variants.

"The current ASF unlawful vaccine(s) in China is repeating history," Salman said.

 
&nbsp;

A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus.

A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus. Two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 sows on several farms owned by New Hope Liuhe, China's fourth-largest producer, as well as pigs being fattened for the firm by contract farmers, said Yan Zhichun, the company's chief science officer. Though the strains, which are missing one or two key genes present in the wild African swine fever virus, don't kill pigs like the disease that ravaged China's farms in 2018 and 2019, they cause a chronic condition that reduces the number of healthy piglets born, Yan told Reuters. At New Hope, and many large producers, infected pigs are culled to prevent the spread, making the disease effectively fatal. Although the known infections are limited now, if the strains spread widely, they could slash pork output in the world's top consumer and producer; two years ago, swine fever wiped out half of China's 400 million-head pig herd. Pork prices are still at record levels and China is under pressure to strengthen food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "I don't know where they come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses," Yan said. Wayne Johnson, a Beijing-based veterinarian, said he diagnosed a chronic, or less-lethal, form of the disease in pigs last year. The virus lacked certain genetic components, known as the MGF360 genes. New Hope has found strains of the virus missing both the MGF360 genes and the CD2v genes, Yan said. Research has shown that deleting some MGF360 genes from African swine fever creates immunity. But the modified virus was not developed into a vaccine because it tended to later mutate back to a harmful state. "You can sequence these things, these double deletions, and if it's exactly the same as described in the lab, it's too much of a coincidence, because you would never get that exact deletion," said Lucilla Steinaa, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. There is no approved vaccine for African swine fever, which is not harmful to humans. But many Chinese farmers struggling to protect their pigs have resorted to unapproved products, industry insiders and experts said. They fear illicit vaccines have created accidental infections, which are now spreading. The new strains could proliferate globally through contaminated meat, infecting pigs that are fed on kitchen waste. The virus is known to survive for months in some pork products. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to two requests for comment. But it has issued at least three warnings against use of unauthorised African swine fever vaccines, cautioning that they could have severe side effects and that producers and users could be charged with a criminal offence. In August, the ministry said it would test pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use. Any strains with gene deletions could indicate a vaccine had been used, it said. No findings have been published so far on the issue, which is highly sensitive for Beijing. Reporting of the recent African swine fever outbreaks was extensively covered up. After decades of research toward producing a vaccine against the huge, complex swine fever virus, researchers around the world are focussing on live-virus vaccines - the only type to have shown any promise. But such vaccines carry higher risks because even after the virus is weakened so it does not cause serious illness, it can sometimes recover its virulence. One such vaccine used in Spain in the 1960s caused a chronic disease with swollen joints, skin lesions and respiratory issues in pigs that complicated efforts to eradicate African swine fever over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for the disease. A vaccine with both MGF360 and CD2v genes deleted is undergoing trials by China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute after showing promise. Yan said he believes that people have replicated the sequences of virus strains being studied, which have been published in scientific literature, and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on them could be infecting others. "It's definitely man-made; this is not a natural strain," he said. Neither Johnson nor Yan have fully sequenced the new swine fever strains. Beijing strictly controls who is allowed to work with the virus, which can only be handled in laboratories with high biosecurity designations. But several private companies have developed test kits that can check for specific genes. GM Biotech, based in China's central Hunan province, said in an online post last week it had developed a test that identifies whether the pathogen is a virulent strain, a single-gene deleted attenuated strain, or a double-gene deleted attenuated strain. The test helps pig producers because the new strains are "very difficult to detect at the initial stage of infection and have a longer incubation period after infection," the company said. The government has not said how widely used illicit vaccines are or who has produced them. But a "vast amount" of pigs in China have nonetheless been vaccinated, Johnson said, a sentiment echoed by many other experts. In 2004-5, when the H5 bird flu strains were spreading across Asia, Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorised live bird flu vaccines, said Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University, who has worked on animal health in Asia, raising fears that they could produce dangerous new variants. "The current ASF unlawful vaccine(s) in China is repeating history," Salman said.

Why swine fever in China is likely caused by illicit vaccines

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday ordered to cull nearly 12,000 pigs in the areas affected by the deadly African swine fever and asked officials to compensate the owners adequately.

So far, 18,000 pigs have died after contracting the virus across 14 districts of the state, a senior official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said.

"Chairing a meeting with department officials, the chief minister said that in compliance with the guidelines of the Centre and the state government, and adhering to experts' opinion, culling of the infected swine population in all the affected districts should be completed before Durga Puja," according to an official statement.

The total number of pigs to be killed in this exercise will be around 12,000, it added.

"As a result of the culling operation, the loss incurred by the farmers will be adequately compensated," Sonowal said.

The latest culling drive will be carried out within one kilometre radius of 30 epicentres across the 14 affected districts, the senior official said.

"We will start the exercise immediately," he added.

When asked about the compensation, the official said the owners of the 12,000 pigs will get the money deposited in their bank accounts, while a proposal has been sent to the government for giving financial support to the owners of the 18,000 pigs that have died already.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday ordered to cull nearly 12,000 pigs in the areas affected by the deadly African swine fever and asked officials to compensate the owners adequately.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday ordered to cull nearly 12,000 pigs in the areas affected by the deadly African swine fever and asked officials to compensate the owners adequately. So far, 18,000 pigs have died after contracting the virus across 14 districts of the state, a senior official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said. "Chairing a meeting with department officials, the chief minister said that in compliance with the guidelines of the Centre and the state government, and adhering to experts' opinion, culling of the infected swine population in all the affected districts should be completed before Durga Puja," according to an official statement. The total number of pigs to be killed in this exercise will be around 12,000, it added. "As a result of the culling operation, the loss incurred by the farmers will be adequately compensated," Sonowal said. The latest culling drive will be carried out within one kilometre radius of 30 epicentres across the 14 affected districts, the senior official said. "We will start the exercise immediately," he added. When asked about the compensation, the official said the owners of the 12,000 pigs will get the money deposited in their bank accounts, while a proposal has been sent to the government for giving financial support to the owners of the 18,000 pigs that have died already.

Assam to cull 12,000 pigs as African swine fever spreads in state

Eight people have died hereafter falling prey to swine flu. So far, as many as 79 people have tested positive for the deadly virus in the region. The state administration has formed a team to examine the deaths.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-reports-150-positive-cases-of-swine-flu-275198">Telangana reports 150 cases of Swine Flu</a>

Speaking to ANI, Chief Medical officer Rajkumar said, "We have formed a six-member team to ascertain the cause of their death. A total of 79 people have been tested positive for swine flu so far."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/swin-flu-cases-in-delhi-mount-to-2835-202692">Swine flu cases in Delhi mount to 2,835</a>

So far, eight deaths have occurred due to Swine Flu. The team is examining whether the deceased caught the virus from a fellow patient while getting treatment in the hospital or were already affected by it," he added.

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On February 29, a team from Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Health Services visited Meerut in the wake of swine flu cases.

An official from the team, Dr. HK Agarwal had stated, "Swine flu cases were reported here, so we came here to conduct a survey and oversee the Medical college here that how they are giving the treatment and how they are isolating the patients."There is no lack of medicine here and if there is a shortage then it will be fulfilled. We will conduct a survey of other hospitals here as well," he had said.

Eight people have died hereafter falling prey to swine flu. So far, as many as 79 people have tested positive for the deadly virus in the region. The state administration has formed a team to examine the deaths.

Eight people have died hereafter falling prey to swine flu. So far, as many as 79 people have tested positive for the deadly virus in the region. The state administration has formed a team to examine the deaths. Also read: Telangana reports 150 cases of Swine Flu Speaking to ANI, Chief Medical officer Rajkumar said, "We have formed a six-member team to ascertain the cause of their death. A total of 79 people have been tested positive for swine flu so far." Also read: Swine flu cases in Delhi mount to 2,835 So far, eight deaths have occurred due to Swine Flu. The team is examining whether the deceased caught the virus from a fellow patient while getting treatment in the hospital or were already affected by it," he added. × On February 29, a team from Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Health Services visited Meerut in the wake of swine flu cases. An official from the team, Dr. HK Agarwal had stated, "Swine flu cases were reported here, so we came here to conduct a survey and oversee the Medical college here that how they are giving the treatment and how they are isolating the patients."There is no lack of medicine here and if there is a shortage then it will be fulfilled. We will conduct a survey of other hospitals here as well," he had said.

Swine flu death toll reaches 8 in Meerut

To avoid bringing swine fever into the country and affect the flourishing pork industry, Germany is taking a host of measures that include using drones, sniffer dogs and electrified fences.&nbsp;

The swine fever is not considered harmful to human health but can cause deadly bleeding in domestic pigs and boars.&nbsp;

Nearly 50 per cent of Germany's pork production which is five million tonnes goes to foreign markets, which makes it Europe's biggest exporter of the meat.&nbsp;

Even a single case of swine fever could wreak havoc and cause losses worth billions of euros.&nbsp;

"The probability that countries like China impose a total import ban is very high," said Sarah Dhem, a representative of Germany's meat products association.

Dhem also gave an example of last year when a few cases detected in Belgium led to a total Chinese import ban.&nbsp;

The farmers started becoming tensed when swine fever was detected at a pig farm in western Poland in November.&nbsp;

Drones and sniffer dogs

Alarms were raised when a boar caught fever near the town of Nowogrod Bobrzanski, just 40 kilometres from the German border.&nbsp;

In Saarland, close to French border, packs of sniffer dogs are being placed to find dead pigs in order to quickly remove any potential carriers of the virus.

In Saxony, which neighbours Poland, vets and emergency workers are conducting drills in case of an outbreak. They are also using drones and infrared cameras to find sick boars.&nbsp;

Electrified fences extending to 50 kms are being prepared in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, to stop boars entering the German side of the border with Poland.&nbsp;

As a precautionary step, Denmark is also putting up a fence along its own 70-kilometre border with Germany.&nbsp;

The irony, however, is the cases of swine fever in China has benefitted the German pork industry and caused import prices to jump up. 
&nbsp;

To avoid bringing swine fever into the country and affect the flourishing pork industry, Germany is taking a host of measures that include using drones, sniffer dogs and electrified fences.

To avoid bringing swine fever into the country and affect the flourishing pork industry, Germany is taking a host of measures that include using drones, sniffer dogs and electrified fences. The swine fever is not considered harmful to human health but can cause deadly bleeding in domestic pigs and boars. Nearly 50 per cent of Germany's pork production which is five million tonnes goes to foreign markets, which makes it Europe's biggest exporter of the meat. Even a single case of swine fever could wreak havoc and cause losses worth billions of euros. "The probability that countries like China impose a total import ban is very high," said Sarah Dhem, a representative of Germany's meat products association. Dhem also gave an example of last year when a few cases detected in Belgium led to a total Chinese import ban. The farmers started becoming tensed when swine fever was detected at a pig farm in western Poland in November. Drones and sniffer dogs Alarms were raised when a boar caught fever near the town of Nowogrod Bobrzanski, just 40 kilometres from the German border. In Saarland, close to French border, packs of sniffer dogs are being placed to find dead pigs in order to quickly remove any potential carriers of the virus. In Saxony, which neighbours Poland, vets and emergency workers are conducting drills in case of an outbreak. They are also using drones and infrared cameras to find sick boars. Electrified fences extending to 50 kms are being prepared in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, to stop boars entering the German side of the border with Poland. As a precautionary step, Denmark is also putting up a fence along its own 70-kilometre border with Germany. The irony, however, is the cases of swine fever in China has benefitted the German pork industry and caused import prices to jump up.

Drones, sniffer dogs, electrified fences: How Germany is preparing to avoid swine fever

South Korea has confirmed its fourth case of African Swine Fever on Tuesday, as Pyongyang was yet to respond to Seoul's request to make joint efforts to tackle the deadly animal disease.

The latest case was confirmed at a farm in Paju, a city near the inter-Korean border where the nation's first case was recorded, according to Seoul's agriculture ministry.

South Korea has culled around 15,000 pigs since the first case was reported on Sept 17.&nbsp;

"We have carried out an immediate culling and are proceeding with an epidemiological&nbsp;investigation," the ministry said in a statement, adding that some 2,300 pigs were being raised at the affected farm.

The fourth case came a day after Seoul's Unification Ministry said that&nbsp;last week it sent a request to North Korea to make collaborative efforts on the matter, although it&nbsp;is yet to receive a reply from Pyongyang.

The virus is not harmful to humans but cases of haemorrhagic fever in pigs is almost always fatal. There is no antidote or vaccine and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is the&nbsp;mass culling of affected livestock.

The second and third cases in the South - confirmed on Sept 18 and 23, respectively -- were also&nbsp;reported from cities in Gyeonggi Province,&nbsp;where Paju belongs and is adjacent to the inter-Korean border.

While Seoul authorities have never confirmed whether the outbreak stemmed from the North, Pyongyang in late May told the World Organisation for Animal Health that dozens of pigs had died from the disease at a farm near the Chinese border.

In June, Seoul said the disease was "highly likely" to enter the country from the North and ordered fences to be erected at farms along the border&nbsp;to prevent possible contact between pigs and wild boar.

No antidote

Kim Jun-young, a vet and a Vice-President of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association in the South,&nbsp;said it is possible that the outbreak has spread to all provinces in the isolated North.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-case-of-african-swine-fever-reported-in-north-korea-222926">"North&nbsp;Korea </a>does not have enough disinfectants, and (it is likely that) pigs are simply being buried after being culled," Kim said.

"It's possible that the virus has already been spread to all regions of the North if anyone dug the bodies of dead pigs and sold the meat, or... vultures ate them and spread the virus", he added.

There are around 6,700 pig farms across South Korea and pig farming accounts for 40 per cent of the total livestock industry.

Seoul believes Pyongyang raises some 2.6 million pigs across 14 state-run farms. The outbreak could worsen food shortages in the impoverished North, where, according to the World Food Programme, its output last year hit the lowest level since 2008.

In May, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization said pork prices had risen by up to 50 per cent both in China and on the Chicago futures exchange as a result of the outbreak.

Last month, it said almost five million pigs in Asia had died or been culled because of the spread of the disease.

South Korea has confirmed its fourth case of African Swine Fever on Tuesday, as Pyongyang was yet to respond to Seoul's request to make joint efforts to tackle the deadly animal disease.

South Korea has confirmed its fourth case of African Swine Fever on Tuesday, as Pyongyang was yet to respond to Seoul's request to make joint efforts to tackle the deadly animal disease. The latest case was confirmed at a farm in Paju, a city near the inter-Korean border where the nation's first case was recorded, according to Seoul's agriculture ministry. South Korea has culled around 15,000 pigs since the first case was reported on Sept 17. "We have carried out an immediate culling and are proceeding with an epidemiological investigation," the ministry said in a statement, adding that some 2,300 pigs were being raised at the affected farm. The fourth case came a day after Seoul's Unification Ministry said that last week it sent a request to North Korea to make collaborative efforts on the matter, although it is yet to receive a reply from Pyongyang. The virus is not harmful to humans but cases of haemorrhagic fever in pigs is almost always fatal. There is no antidote or vaccine and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is the mass culling of affected livestock. The second and third cases in the South - confirmed on Sept 18 and 23, respectively -- were also reported from cities in Gyeonggi Province, where Paju belongs and is adjacent to the inter-Korean border. While Seoul authorities have never confirmed whether the outbreak stemmed from the North, Pyongyang in late May told the World Organisation for Animal Health that dozens of pigs had died from the disease at a farm near the Chinese border. In June, Seoul said the disease was "highly likely" to enter the country from the North and ordered fences to be erected at farms along the border to prevent possible contact between pigs and wild boar. No antidote Kim Jun-young, a vet and a Vice-President of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association in the South, said it is possible that the outbreak has spread to all provinces in the isolated North. "North Korea does not have enough disinfectants, and (it is likely that) pigs are simply being buried after being culled," Kim said. "It's possible that the virus has already been spread to all regions of the North if anyone dug the bodies of dead pigs and sold the meat, or... vultures ate them and spread the virus", he added. There are around 6,700 pig farms across South Korea and pig farming accounts for 40 per cent of the total livestock industry. Seoul believes Pyongyang raises some 2.6 million pigs across 14 state-run farms. The outbreak could worsen food shortages in the impoverished North, where, according to the World Food Programme, its output last year hit the lowest level since 2008. In May, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization said pork prices had risen by up to 50 per cent both in China and on the Chicago futures exchange as a result of the outbreak. Last month, it said almost five million pigs in Asia had died or been culled because of the spread of the disease.

South Korea confirms fourth Swine Fever case, requests North Korea to cooperate

China will auction 10,000 tonnes of reserve pork this week, the Commerce Ministry said, in a bid to control the fallout from an outbreak of African Swine Fever that has sent prices soaring and hit supplies of the meat ahead of a key holiday.

Beijing has been struggling to control the disease, which has ripped through its massive pig-farming industry, leading to the culling of more than a million of the animals.&nbsp;

In a statement published on its website Tuesday night, a state-owned company that handles the reserves said that it would auction off imported frozen pork from countries including Denmark, Germany, France, the United States, and Britain.

Only 300 tonnes will be sold to each bidder at the auction.

The decision comes ahead of a week-long national holiday and celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.

Authorities are scrambling to contain the outbreak of African swine fever as the costs of the country's staple meat soar.

The price of pork in China jumped 46.7 per cent on-year in August, official data showed last week -- prompting authorities to say they would dip into strategic meat reserves.

The number of pigs culled as a result of the outbreak is widely believed to be much higher than the 1.1 million officially reported, with government data showing China's pig herd totalled 347.6 million in the first half of the year, down 60 million from the same period last year.

Last week Beijing also said it would exempt high-profile US agricultural products including pork from added tariffs in its long-running trade war with Washington.

China will auction 10,000 tonnes of reserve pork this week, the Commerce Ministry said, in a bid to control the fallout from an outbreak of African Swine Fever that has sent prices soaring and hit supplies of the meat ahead of a key holiday.

China will auction 10,000 tonnes of reserve pork this week, the Commerce Ministry said, in a bid to control the fallout from an outbreak of African Swine Fever that has sent prices soaring and hit supplies of the meat ahead of a key holiday. Beijing has been struggling to control the disease, which has ripped through its massive pig-farming industry, leading to the culling of more than a million of the animals. In a statement published on its website Tuesday night, a state-owned company that handles the reserves said that it would auction off imported frozen pork from countries including Denmark, Germany, France, the United States, and Britain. Only 300 tonnes will be sold to each bidder at the auction. The decision comes ahead of a week-long national holiday and celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1. Authorities are scrambling to contain the outbreak of African swine fever as the costs of the country's staple meat soar. The price of pork in China jumped 46.7 per cent on-year in August, official data showed last week -- prompting authorities to say they would dip into strategic meat reserves. The number of pigs culled as a result of the outbreak is widely believed to be much higher than the 1.1 million officially reported, with government data showing China's pig herd totalled 347.6 million in the first half of the year, down 60 million from the same period last year. Last week Beijing also said it would exempt high-profile US agricultural products including pork from added tariffs in its long-running trade war with Washington.

China taps pork reserve as Swine Fever hits industry

China's agriculture ministry said on Monday it will carry out checks on local veterinary authorities in 10 provinces as it tries to slow the ongoing spread of the deadly African swine fever virus.

The investigations come after China's cabinet said earlier this month there were deficiencies in the country's efforts to control and prevent the disease, which has reached every province of the country and is still spreading, almost a year after the first outbreak.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-vows-to-tackle-dead-pig-scam-amid-swine-fever-epidemic-235318">China is the world's largest pork consumer </a>and its massive hog herd has been decimated by the disease. African swine fever kills almost all pigs it infects but does not harm people. There is no vaccine or cure.

But many outbreaks are not being reported, farmers have told Reuters, with local officials in some provinces unwilling to verify or report the disease.

Vice agriculture minister Yu Kangzhen said recently the ministry was looking into reports of underreporting. He also said some places lacked the people and money to prevent and control the disease.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement online that it will evaluate the veterinary agencies from two sample counties in the following provinces and regions: Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Anhui, Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan and Shaanxi.

One county must be a place where there has recently been an outbreak of the disease, and it should be compared with another county, ideally administered by the same city or in the same area, where the disease has not occurred, it said.

The evaluations will be completed by Oct. 31 and a report on the findings will be submitted to the ministry by Dec. 31.

"This is what is needed. At a national level and even provincial level, the policies were okay, but there were shortcomings in the way they were translated. And that's something that needs to be worked out to stop this disease," said Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary epidemiology at the City University of Hong Kong.

He added however that it remained to be seen what the results of the evaluations would be and whether there would be any measurable impact on the disease in the short-term.

The ministry said earlier on Monday that the country's hog herd had shrunk 25.8 per cent in June from a year ago, with the number of sows down 26.7 per cent.

Live hog prices have increased sharply since June and are pushing up pork prices and consumer inflation.&nbsp;

China's agriculture ministry said on Monday it will carry out checks on local veterinary authorities in 10 provinces as it tries to slow the ongoing spread of the deadly African swine fever virus.

China's agriculture ministry said on Monday it will carry out checks on local veterinary authorities in 10 provinces as it tries to slow the ongoing spread of the deadly African swine fever virus. The investigations come after China's cabinet said earlier this month there were deficiencies in the country's efforts to control and prevent the disease, which has reached every province of the country and is still spreading, almost a year after the first outbreak. China is the world's largest pork consumer and its massive hog herd has been decimated by the disease. African swine fever kills almost all pigs it infects but does not harm people. There is no vaccine or cure. But many outbreaks are not being reported, farmers have told Reuters, with local officials in some provinces unwilling to verify or report the disease. Vice agriculture minister Yu Kangzhen said recently the ministry was looking into reports of underreporting. He also said some places lacked the people and money to prevent and control the disease. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement online that it will evaluate the veterinary agencies from two sample counties in the following provinces and regions: Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Anhui, Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan and Shaanxi. One county must be a place where there has recently been an outbreak of the disease, and it should be compared with another county, ideally administered by the same city or in the same area, where the disease has not occurred, it said. The evaluations will be completed by Oct. 31 and a report on the findings will be submitted to the ministry by Dec. 31. "This is what is needed. At a national level and even provincial level, the policies were okay, but there were shortcomings in the way they were translated. And that's something that needs to be worked out to stop this disease," said Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary epidemiology at the City University of Hong Kong. He added however that it remained to be seen what the results of the evaluations would be and whether there would be any measurable impact on the disease in the short-term. The ministry said earlier on Monday that the country's hog herd had shrunk 25.8 per cent in June from a year ago, with the number of sows down 26.7 per cent. Live hog prices have increased sharply since June and are pushing up pork prices and consumer inflation.

China to investigate local authorities' efforts to control African swine fever

Criminal gangs in China are faking outbreaks of African swine fever on farms free of the disease and forcing farmers to sell their healthy pigs at sharply lower prices, the agriculture ministry said on Friday.

The gangs are taking advantage of a highly contagious disease that has spread across much of the country and disrupted the world's biggest pork market.

The scam involves dumping dead pigs on farms and then spreading rumours that the farms are infected with African swine fever, which is often fatal for pigs but harmless for humans.

The gangs then pressure farmers to sell their hogs at lower prices, violating farmers' rights and affecting normal pig production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry did not give more details but it urged anyone who witnessed such activities to alert the authorities.

"All localities should be vigilant and actively guard against it," it said.

Up to half of China's breeding pigs have either died from African swine fever or been slaughtered because of the spreading disease, twice as many as officially acknowledged, Reuters reported last month.

Criminal gangs in China are faking outbreaks of African swine fever on farms free of the disease and forcing farmers to sell their healthy pigs at sharply lower prices, the agriculture ministry said on Friday.

Criminal gangs in China are faking outbreaks of African swine fever on farms free of the disease and forcing farmers to sell their healthy pigs at sharply lower prices, the agriculture ministry said on Friday. The gangs are taking advantage of a highly contagious disease that has spread across much of the country and disrupted the world's biggest pork market. The scam involves dumping dead pigs on farms and then spreading rumours that the farms are infected with African swine fever, which is often fatal for pigs but harmless for humans. The gangs then pressure farmers to sell their hogs at lower prices, violating farmers' rights and affecting normal pig production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement. The ministry did not give more details but it urged anyone who witnessed such activities to alert the authorities. "All localities should be vigilant and actively guard against it," it said. Up to half of China's breeding pigs have either died from African swine fever or been slaughtered because of the spreading disease, twice as many as officially acknowledged, Reuters reported last month.

China vows to tackle dead pig scam amid swine fever epidemic

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May.

In late May, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-case-of-african-swine-fever-reported-in-north-korea-222926">North Korea reported an outbreak of African swine fever</a> (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), South Korea's agriculture ministry said but the North has not made any official comment on its outbreak.

North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Wednesday nationwide preventive measures are being carried out to contain the virus, quoting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying "prevention is the key to production in livestock industry".

"Increasing livestock production goes hand in hand with raising farm animals safe from various diseases," said Kim according to the newspaper.

"Once highly contagious diseases like African swine fever are spread .... herds of farm animals could die."

Preventative measures include disinfecting farms and restricting sales of pork and processed meat, the newspaper said.

North Korea raises mainly chicken, ducks and rabbits. Its pig population was 2.6 million as of 2017, according to data from Statistics Korea.

In the wake of the North's outbreak, South Korea has stepped up disinfection measures near the shared border to keep the viral disease spreading to the South.

So far, no further cases have been reported in North Korea.

African swine fever (ASF) is fatal and highly contagious to pigs and wild boards, but it does not affect humans. Since the first outbreak of ASF in East Asia was reported in China in early August last year, the virus has spread across China including Vietnam.

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May.

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May. In late May, North Korea reported an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), South Korea's agriculture ministry said but the North has not made any official comment on its outbreak. North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Wednesday nationwide preventive measures are being carried out to contain the virus, quoting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying "prevention is the key to production in livestock industry". "Increasing livestock production goes hand in hand with raising farm animals safe from various diseases," said Kim according to the newspaper. "Once highly contagious diseases like African swine fever are spread .... herds of farm animals could die." Preventative measures include disinfecting farms and restricting sales of pork and processed meat, the newspaper said. North Korea raises mainly chicken, ducks and rabbits. Its pig population was 2.6 million as of 2017, according to data from Statistics Korea. In the wake of the North's outbreak, South Korea has stepped up disinfection measures near the shared border to keep the viral disease spreading to the South. So far, no further cases have been reported in North Korea. African swine fever (ASF) is fatal and highly contagious to pigs and wild boards, but it does not affect humans. Since the first outbreak of ASF in East Asia was reported in China in early August last year, the virus has spread across China including Vietnam.

North Korea steps up measures to prevent spread of African swine fever

One more person died of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/79-fresh-cases-of-swine-flu-detected-in-rajasthan-death-toll-touches-112-196787">swine flu in Rajasthan</a> on Friday, taking the total death toll to 126 in the state so far this year.

The patient who lost life was from Barmer district of the state.

Also, 74 new cases have been reported in the state, taking the tally of patients to 3,359 in 46 days.

Amongst the fresh cases, Jaipur witnessed the highest number of 29 patients, followed by Udaipur where seven people were tested positive. Five cases each were reported from Tonk, Kota, and Alwar. Four positive cases were reported from Ganganagar. Three cases each were reported in Karauli, Jodhpur, and Barmer. Two cases each were reported from Ajmer and Churu and one case each was reported from Hanumangarh, Dausa, Jhunjhnu, Pali, Jalore and Chittorgarh.

Swine flu is an infection caused by one of the several swine influenza viruses (SIV), with the H1N1 strain being the most common across the country. H1N1 virus spreads when an individual touched an infected or breathes droplets of coughs and sneezes that are in the air.

The symptoms are the same as the seasonal flu, also known as viral fever. This includes a cough, sore throat, and body ache.

One more person died of swine flu in Rajasthan on Friday, taking the total death toll to 126 in the state so far this year. The patient who lost life was from Barmer district of the state.

One more person died of swine flu in Rajasthan on Friday, taking the total death toll to 126 in the state so far this year. The patient who lost life was from Barmer district of the state. Also, 74 new cases have been reported in the state, taking the tally of patients to 3,359 in 46 days. Amongst the fresh cases, Jaipur witnessed the highest number of 29 patients, followed by Udaipur where seven people were tested positive. Five cases each were reported from Tonk, Kota, and Alwar. Four positive cases were reported from Ganganagar. Three cases each were reported in Karauli, Jodhpur, and Barmer. Two cases each were reported from Ajmer and Churu and one case each was reported from Hanumangarh, Dausa, Jhunjhnu, Pali, Jalore and Chittorgarh. Swine flu is an infection caused by one of the several swine influenza viruses (SIV), with the H1N1 strain being the most common across the country. H1N1 virus spreads when an individual touched an infected or breathes droplets of coughs and sneezes that are in the air. The symptoms are the same as the seasonal flu, also known as viral fever. This includes a cough, sore throat, and body ache.

Swine flu: Death toll touches 126 in Rajasthan with one more death

Four new outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in China's provinces of Jiangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan as well as the municipality of Shanghai, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday.

Ten pigs had died from the disease and 10 others had fallen ill on a farm with 150 hogs in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, the ministry said on its website. Another 348 pigs will be slaughtered in Yunnan province in the southwest, it added.

A farm with 314 pigs in the Jinshan district of Shanghai was affected, the ministry reported. Eleven of the hogs had died while another 50 were infected, it said.

Four new outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in China's provinces of Jiangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan as well as the municipality of Shanghai, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday.

Four new outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in China's provinces of Jiangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan as well as the municipality of Shanghai, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday. Ten pigs had died from the disease and 10 others had fallen ill on a farm with 150 hogs in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, the ministry said on its website. Another 348 pigs will be slaughtered in Yunnan province in the southwest, it added. A farm with 314 pigs in the Jinshan district of Shanghai was affected, the ministry reported. Eleven of the hogs had died while another 50 were infected, it said.

China reports new outbreaks of African swine fever in Jiangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan and Shanghai

China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in the eastern province of Anhui.

China, home to the world's largest hog herd, has reported more than 50 cases of the highly contagious disease, including in Anhui, since the first detected outbreak in early August.

The fever was found on a farm with 8,339 pigs in Qingyang county in the south of Anhui, infecting 96 of the animals and killing 47 of them, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement.

Transportation of pigs in and out of the area has been banned, as has movement of pork products outside the area. Last month, the ministry said it would lift African swine fever-related restrictions in four Anhui cities hit by previous outbreaks.

In a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Sunday, Tangrenshen Group, a major Chinese pork producer, said the fever was found in feed samples provided by its 51 per cent-owned subsidiary, Bili Meiyingwei Nutrition Feedstuff, during inspections in the aftermath of the Qingyang outbreak.

Tangrenshen said the origin of the detected fever remained unclear and the matter was still under investigation. It said the impact on its operations would be "relatively small," with Bili Meiyingwei accounting for only 2.27 per cent of the group's net profit in the first nine months of 2018.

China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in the eastern province of Anhui. China, home to the world's largest hog herd, has reported more than 50 cases of the highly contagious disease, including in Anhui, since the first detected outbreak in early August.

China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in the eastern province of Anhui. China, home to the world's largest hog herd, has reported more than 50 cases of the highly contagious disease, including in Anhui, since the first detected outbreak in early August. The fever was found on a farm with 8,339 pigs in Qingyang county in the south of Anhui, infecting 96 of the animals and killing 47 of them, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement. Transportation of pigs in and out of the area has been banned, as has movement of pork products outside the area. Last month, the ministry said it would lift African swine fever-related restrictions in four Anhui cities hit by previous outbreaks. In a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Sunday, Tangrenshen Group, a major Chinese pork producer, said the fever was found in feed samples provided by its 51 per cent-owned subsidiary, Bili Meiyingwei Nutrition Feedstuff, during inspections in the aftermath of the Qingyang outbreak. Tangrenshen said the origin of the detected fever remained unclear and the matter was still under investigation. It said the impact on its operations would be "relatively small," with Bili Meiyingwei accounting for only 2.27 per cent of the group's net profit in the first nine months of 2018.

China reports new African swine fever outbreak in Anhui province

Telangana is witnessing a spurt in swine flu or H1N1 cases from the past few weeks. As per the information by government officials, at least 10-15 swine flu cases have been detected in the region.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Shankar, Director Institute of Preventive Medicine, said, "In last 15 days, we have got around 10 to 15 positive swine flu cases from all over Telangana&nbsp;from different hospitals. We are providing them with the required treatment and are also keeping a watch on the suspected people suffering from this diseases."

Elaborating further about the preparation undertaken by the medical practitioners to combat the spread of the disease, Dr. Shankar said, "We have procured all the drugs which will be required for treating the patients suffering from this disease after The Ministry of Health issued an alert to all the state health officials, especially Telangana&nbsp;officials, to get ready to face swine flu."

"At present, there are two labs for testing of swine flu samples all over in Telangana (/search?query=Telangana), one lab is Institute of Preventive Medicine and another one is in Fever Hospital. All the samples of patients who are suspected of suffering from this virus are being sent here for the analysis. The government may soon open two more labs in the state and we are also planning to set up two hospitals near these labs," he added.

In his concluding remark, the doctor advised the people of Telangana to protect themselves from a cough and alerted that swine flu&nbsp;may spread more in this month and the coming one.

Telangana is witnessing a spurt in swine flu or H1N1 cases from the past few weeks. As per the information by government officials, at least 10-15 swine flu cases have been detected in the region.

Telangana is witnessing a spurt in swine flu or H1N1 cases from the past few weeks. As per the information by government officials, at least 10-15 swine flu cases have been detected in the region. Speaking to ANI, Dr Shankar, Director Institute of Preventive Medicine, said, "In last 15 days, we have got around 10 to 15 positive swine flu cases from all over Telangana from different hospitals. We are providing them with the required treatment and are also keeping a watch on the suspected people suffering from this diseases." Elaborating further about the preparation undertaken by the medical practitioners to combat the spread of the disease, Dr. Shankar said, "We have procured all the drugs which will be required for treating the patients suffering from this disease after The Ministry of Health issued an alert to all the state health officials, especially Telangana officials, to get ready to face swine flu." "At present, there are two labs for testing of swine flu samples all over in Telangana (/search?query=Telangana), one lab is Institute of Preventive Medicine and another one is in Fever Hospital. All the samples of patients who are suspected of suffering from this virus are being sent here for the analysis. The government may soon open two more labs in the state and we are also planning to set up two hospitals near these labs," he added. In his concluding remark, the doctor advised the people of Telangana to protect themselves from a cough and alerted that swine flu may spread more in this month and the coming one.

Spread of swine flu raises alarm in Telangana 

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