China Learns to Live With African Swine Fever
China's pig farmers are learning to live with a weakening but still widespread African swine fever (ASF) virus. Chinese officials--who always prioritize China's image over everything else--have lost interest in ASF now that it is no longer a crisis. There are disagreements about the extent of African swine fever infections, but no one disputes that the disease is endemic in the country and has joined the cocktail of pathogens that circulate in China--the world's biggest pork producer...and the world's largest petri dish. There has been controversy over the extent of Chinese ASF infections since March when two securities analysts warned that a survey questionnaire showed widespread infection in northern China. Other articles immediately tried to debunk the report by quoting one or two farm managers who told them infections had peaked in December-January but said their company's farms were no longer experiencing serious problems. The agriculture ministry warned agains...