Deadly Pig-Killing Viral Disease Rapidly Spreads in China*

The Associated Press
Monday, June 11, 2007; 6:46 AM

BEIJING -- Blue ear disease, blamed for a surge in politically sensitive
pork prices, has spread to 22 Chinese provinces and regions, the
country's chief veterinarian said on Monday.

The disease, also called porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome,
was first identified in the United States in 1987, according to the Web
site of the World Organization for Animal Health.

The disease does not affect people but can be fatal for pigs.

Jia Youling, director of the veterinarian department of the Ministry of
Agriculture, told a news conference that the disease had infected pigs
in 22 provinces and regions in the first five months of this year.

China has 23 provinces, five autonomous regions and four self-governed
municipalities.

The disease has killed more than 180,000 pigs, Jia said, according to a
transcript of the news conference posted on the ministry's Web site.

"We have already developed testing and vaccines for the disease," Jia
said. "We have reported the findings to relevant international
organizations."

The disease has been blamed for sharply raising pork prices, a sensitive
political issue in China.

Pork prices have shot up 43 percent in the last year. The jump was so
serious that the Cabinet held an emergency session recently to discuss
it, and Premier Wen Jiabao made public appearances broadcast on state
television to address concerns.

Many farmers have stopped raising pigs because of worries they would
lose money if the animals died.

Pork is the meat of choice for most people in China. Urban Chinese ate
an average of 42 pounds per person in 2006, according to the ministry.