This was conducted by a sampling team from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (HVRI), and supported by local Animal Disease Prevention and Control Centres (ACDC) in Hunan and Guangdong Provinces, VB of the MoA and FAO ECTAD China Office.

Dr Guo Fusheng, National Technical Advisor, FAO ECTAD China and Xu Tiangang, National Project Coordinator of EPT+ accompanied the experts from HVRI in Hunan Province from 16 to 19 January when they collected swine swab and blood samples.

A coordination meeting was organized in Hunan Provincial Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control (ACDC) on 17 January. The sampling team was divided into two groups. One group took samples in the largest slaughterhouse in Changsha City, while another one took samples in pig farms and a slaughterhouse in West Dongting Lake District.

Over 2,000 sets of nose swab and blood samples were taken in Changsha City. 100 nose swab samples were taken from the farms and 580 sets of samples were taken from the slaughterhouse in Dongting Lake District. Samples were sent to the HVRI for laboratory testing.

The sampling process in Guangdong Province also went smoothly and 3,000 samples were collected and were delivered to HVRI for testing.

It was agreed that the second round of sampling would take place in mid March 2013.

Further Reading

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