Originally published August 22 2005
Chinese authorities recall pork after outbreak of pig-borne disease
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Pork from Shenzhen, in southern Hong Kong, has been recalled after 200 people contracted a deadly bacterial infection.
Authorities in China, which is battling an outbreak of a pig-borne disease, have recalled over 1,270 kilograms (2,800 lbs) of pork in the southern city of Shenzhen, newspapers in Hong Kong reported on Monday.
Authorities began recalling the batch of pork, which originated from central Henan province, from two Shenzhen markets on Saturday, the Apple Daily newspaper reported.
It did not say why the meat was being recalled.
The pig-borne disease, caused by the Streptococcus suis bacteria, has infected more than 200 people in China's southwest province of Sichuan and killed 39 of them in recent weeks.
Hong Kong, which is just south of Shenzhen, said on Monday that it was contacting health authorities in China for comment on the newspaper reports.
Officials in Shenzhen have posted notices at some housing estates promising refunds to residents who surrendered pork that they bought from the two markets, the Apple Daily said.
Those who had consumed the meat were ordered to register their names, but were not told why.
The outbreak has killed around 650 pigs in Sichuan, but instead of disposing them, many poor farmers ate and even sold them.
The outbreak was first reported in June but did not surface in the Chinese media until almost a month later.
Streptococcus suis is endemic in most pig-rearing countries but human infections are rare.
Although China's state media have said no human-to-human infections have been found in Sichuan, the infection rate and death toll is considered unusually high.
The outbreak has caused jitters in nearby Hong Kong, which has reported three infections since the outbreak in mainland China began.
Although China has suspended exports of Sichuan pork to Hong Kong, sales of the meat have fallen markedly in the city.
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