China's chief veterinary officer said on Thursday blue ear pig
disease, which caused pork shortage and fuelled price hikes in
recent months, still lingers in 14 Chinese counties, citing reports
filed since late August.
Jia Youling, China's chief veterinary officer, said at a press
conference the Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up measures to
bring the epidemic under control.
Known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, the
disease has cut the supply of live pig and triggered pork price
hikes. Price hikes of pork and the ensuing hikes of other food
products have pushed the country's consumer price index to 6.5
percent in August.
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(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2007)