Over 6000 dead pigs found in China
Image: Huangpu River, Shanghai
Since the discovery of 2,800 pig carcasses in the Huangpu river in Shanghai last week, thousands more have been recovered, bringing the total to 6,600.
The carcasses are believed to have been dumped by pig farmers in the Jiaxing area of the neighbouring Zhejiang province. A surge in the dumping of dead pigs is thought to have been prompted by police campaigns against the sale of diseased pork.
Last Wednesday a Zhejiang court sentenced 46 people to imprisonment for producing unsafe pork from diseased pigs between 2010 and 2012.
As part of another operation last year, police in Jiaxing broke up a gang that was found to be acquiring and slaughtering diseased pigs, confiscating nearly 12 tonnes of unsafe pork.
The discovery of nearly 7000 carcasses in the Huangpu over the last week has caused anxiety amongst local residents. Officals however say the water supply remains safe.
The Shanghai government said on Wednesday that the water will continue to be tested for viruses, including porcine circovirus, which is not thought to affect humans.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
