HONG KONG — Officials in Hong Kong made the decision on Dec. 9 to cull 900 pigs after African swine fever (ASF) was detected in its New Territories district.

According to the Agriculture, Fish and Conservation Department (AFCD), 19 of 30 pigs tested positive for the ASF virus. The decision was made to suspend the transportation of any pigs from the affected farm immediately. Culling will start the week of Dec. 11, according to AFCD.

“AFCD staff has arranged to inspect the other eight pig farms within three kilometers of the index farm and will collect pig samples for ASF testing,” AFCD said in a statement. “For the sake of prudence, the AFCD has also temporarily suspended movements of pigs on these farms until further notice. No reports of abnormalities from pig farms outside the three-kilometer zone have been received so far.”

Major ASF outbreaks occurred in Europe and Asia between 2018-2020 that greatly affected the hog population on both continents.

Some cases have been detected in 2023 but have yet to be on the same scale as previous years.

ASF does not affect humans, but it can be spread via pig meat or by the body fluids of infected animals, contaminated feed, vehicles, equipment and clothing.