Jilin: Sausages produced with infected meat
More controls are introduced to prevent the Streptococcus suis epidemic, which strikes pigs and humans, "the worst ever outbreak in the world".
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) A pork meat dealer has been arrested in China's north-east province of Jilin and charged with trading in products made from the meat of pigs which died of disease. After the break-out of the pig-borne epidemic in Sichuan, which led to at least 37 deaths among breeders, veterinary checks were stepped up across China. The arrest took place after the authorities raided a sausage factory in the capital Changchun, confiscating a tonne of frozen products.
The operation is part of a drive by regional authorities to prevent the spread in this province of the infection caused by the bacteria "streptococcus suis type 2". According to the Health Ministry of Sichuan the south-west province where the epidemic broke out and where most Chinese pig breeders are found the death toll has reached 37, and 205 people are infected. Around 150 people have been admitted to hospital, 30 of them in critical condition. Meanwhile, some regions have stopped importing pork meat from Sichuan: in Hong Kong and Beijing, the sale of meat coming from high-risk zones is prohibited. Last weekend, 209.8 tonnes of meat from Sichuan were confiscated in Guangzhou. However, the Chinese government has not officially prohibited pork meat exports from the province.
Duan Chengzhong, chairman of the Sichuan Animal Husbandry Association, said trade in pork meat slumped by 10% to 20% since the epidemic broke out. Sources of the province's Economic and Trade Commission said pork sales in neighbouring areas of affected cities have dropped by 20% to 30% and even by 40% in worst-affected markets. Prices have fallen by at least 10%.
According to a Health Ministry expert, the epidemic was provoked by the most toxic type of streptococcus suis: type 2. Chen Zhihai, head of the ministerial team of experts at work in affected areas, said this year's epidemic is absolutely the worst outbreak anywhere in the world. Chen said the type 2 bacteria have a high level of toxicity which can contain up to seven "toxic" genes. The swiftness of the spread of infection depends on the toxicity of the bacteria and the resistance levels of infected people. The internal organs of many patients failed and they died before they could receive the necessary treatment. The large number of victims, according to Chen, is due also to doctors' initial under-estimation of the phenomenon. The mortality rate, he continued, has dropped considerably in recent days.
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