China reports new African swine fever cases

China has confirmed two new outbreaks of African swine fever in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and central China's Henan Province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Friday.

In Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia, 16 pigs on a local farm were confirmed infected and dead, while 148 pigs on a farm in the city of Xinxiang, Henan, were confirmed infected and 64 of them died, the ministry said.

The ministry said local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, cull, and disinfect the affected pigs.

The outbreaks are now under control, said the ministry.

African swine fever is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects pigs. It does not affect humans or other animal species.

China reported its first case of the disease in August in the northeastern Liaoning Province, and later the outbreaks were reported in several other provinces. The ministry said earlier this month that the situation was generally under control.