Tiny Pig Farms Complicating China's Fight Against Deadly Virus
- Small-scale, backyard farms lack ability to prevent disease
- China reports African swine fever outbreaks in six provinces
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The race to contain the deadly pig virus spreading through China’s eastern provinces may be hampered by the proliferation of millions of small farms that house many of the country’s hogs.
In Heilongjiang province, where there have been at least two outbreaks of African swine fever, farmer Wang Lianchen said he’s not concerned because he hasn’t been told by local officials that he should be worried. He only found out about the growing number of outbreaks since the start of August by watching television and hasn’t taken any additional measures to protect the 200 pigs that live in his backyard.