African swine fever found in wild boar for first time in Hong Kong, sparking concern disease could spread to local pig farms
- Carcass of infected animal found at Cape Collinson in Siu Sai Wan along a popular hiking trail
- Disease is harmless to humans and not considered a food safety threat, but it spreads fast among swine populations and often proves deadly
The carcass of the infected animal was found at Cape Collinson in Siu Sai Wan along a popular hiking trail on Hong Kong Island.
Noting there had been unusual deaths among wild boars in the area, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it would continue to monitor the situation.
The disease is harmless to humans and not considered a threat to food safety but it spreads fast among swine populations and often proves deadly to the animals.
“African swine fever is a highly contagious disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. However, it is not a zoonotic disease and does not infect humans, hence does not cause any food safety risk,” an AFCD spokesman said. “Well-cooked pork is safe for consumption. The case will not affect the supply of fresh pork to the market.”
