Authorities in Shanghai plucked 611
dead pig carcasses Saturday from Huangpu river, which provides drinking water
to the city’s 23 million residents. In total, 8,965 dead pigs have been found
in the river since March 8.
The swollen and rotting pigs are largely
believed to be from the upstream city of Jiaxing in neighboring Zhejiang
province, but Zhao Shumei, a deputy vice mayor, said it was inconclusive to say
all the pigs were from her city.
Jiaxing — where small hog farms are
prevalent — reported Friday night that it had recovered 3,601 dead pigs from
its streams, according to state media.
The head veterinarian for China’s
Agriculture Ministry, Yu Kangzhen, who has traveled to the region to
investigate the deaths, told state media Saturday that there has been no major
swine epidemic, but said some samples tested positive for the common porcine
circovirus and the epidemic diarrhea virus.
Yu also said cold weather and
fluctuating temperatures have caused a spike in deaths among baby pigs.
Villagers have told state media
that pig dumping is on the rise, following police campaigns against the illicit
trade of pork products harvested from diseased pigs that were illegally sold,
instead of properly disposed of.
Shanghai authorities have
repeatedly assured residents that tap water is safe, but locals remain worried
about water contamination. -
