Press Releases
Pig disposal procedure on Yuen Long pig farm with pigs found with ASF virus completed
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
​Regarding the incident announced on November 7 where samples of pigs from a local pig farm were detected with African Swine Fever (ASF), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched a disposal operation on November 9 on the farm concerned. The operation was completed today (November 21).
An AFCD spokesman said, "According to the contingency plan on ASF, the AFCD has sent staff to dispose of and handle a total of 5 624 pigs on the licensed farm in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long, since November 9. The operation was completed today. All pigs disposed of and handled were sent to the West New Territories Landfill for dumping according to established procedures."
The AFCD will continue to investigate and trace the source of the ASF virus with international experts, and keep local pig farms under close surveillance as well as conducting tests if necessary. The AFCD has also reminded all farmers to alert the Department immediately if any abnormal health condition is observed in pigs.
The spokesman stressed that ASF is not a zoonotic disease and will not infect humans, hence does not cause any food safety risk. Pork cooked thoroughly is safe for consumption. Members of the public do not need to be concerned. The incident does not affect the operation of local slaughterhouses nor the overall supply of live pigs.
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