Pork is sold at a Pasay City market as the Philippine government banned the entry of the meat from several countries as a protection against African swine fever. In Hong Kong, a case of African swine fever was detected. (AP)
HONG KONG聽 鈥� A case of African swine fever has been detected in a Hong Kong slaughterhouse, prompting the culling of all 6,000 pigs at the facility.
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said in a statement Friday that the incurable virus was found in a single pig imported from a farm in Guangdong province in mainland China, where the monthslong outbreak has devastated herds.
Pork is China鈥檚 staple meat and its price and availability is considered a matter of national concern.
Chan says the culling was necessary so that 鈥渢horough cleansing and also disinfection could be conducted.鈥�
She said the territory鈥檚 fresh pork supply would be reduced in the near future.
The disease cannot be transmitted to humans and Chan says well-cooked pork is safe for consumption.