Disease and public opinion put pigs in peril
As the UK faces up to the arrival of the bluetongue virus, a potentially fatal swine virus, known as blue-eared pig disease, is spreading across 26 Chinese provinces, killing an estimated 40,000 pigs.
According to the Chinese state media, between January and July this year, more than 166,000 of China’s estimated 482 million pigs became infected with the disease, which causes a blueing of the ears, as well as a lack of appetite, high fever and respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, a largely Chinese group of farmers found themselves on the sharp end of a public outcry condemning air and water pollution emanating from hundreds of unlicensed pig farms in Malacca.
‘Locals were unhappy with those farmers operating without proper licences and they could not stand the smell,’ said Ismail Salleh, Malacca’s state secretary. ‘And in certain areas, the water pollution was very bad.’
Continued public pressure and the perceived threat to public health resulted in the slaughter of some 50,000 pigs.
November 2007
According to the Chinese state media, between January and July this year, more than 166,000 of China’s estimated 482 million pigs became infected with the disease, which causes a blueing of the ears, as well as a lack of appetite, high fever and respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, a largely Chinese group of farmers found themselves on the sharp end of a public outcry condemning air and water pollution emanating from hundreds of unlicensed pig farms in Malacca.
‘Locals were unhappy with those farmers operating without proper licences and they could not stand the smell,’ said Ismail Salleh, Malacca’s state secretary. ‘And in certain areas, the water pollution was very bad.’
Continued public pressure and the perceived threat to public health resulted in the slaughter of some 50,000 pigs.
November 2007
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