Urgency for vaccine grows as virus ravages China’s pigs

— Scientists are working to develop a vaccine to help guard the world’s pork supply as a deadly virus ravages Asia’s pig herds.

The virus hadn’t been considered as high a priority for researchers until it turned up last year in China, home to half the world’s pig population, likely by way of Eastern Europe and Russia. Since then, it has spread to other Asian countries including Vietnam, killing millions of pigs along the way. Though it does not sicken people, the disease is highly contagious and deadly to pigs.

It’s why scientists have been working on another type of vaccine, made from a weakened virus rather than a dead one. With African swine fever, the puzzle has been figuring out exactly how to tweak the virus. Myanmar reported its first outbreak in early August and North Korea reported an outbreak in May, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

The extensive testing is necessary to ensure vaccines made by weakened viruses don’t have unintended side effects. Even if vaccines become available, they might not work across the globe. Vaccines developed for the virus in China and Europe, for example, might do nothing in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease has been around longer.

Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

China warns revival of terror groups, including IS, in SyriaChina’s Syria envoy said that “terrorist organizations,” including the Islamic State group, are being revived in the war-ravaged country, urging the international community not to ignore the “early warning” signs.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Gov’t to buy P19.1B worth of meds in 2020 – RectoMalacañang is planning to buy P19.1 billion worth of drugs and vaccines in 2020 and send 80% of these to the provinces, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. | DYGalvezINQ DYGalvezINQ Ano daw Persida? DYGalvezINQ DYGalvezINQ Ikulong niyo muna si Persida.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

US Air Force monitors China, Russia exercises in S. China SeaWaaaaah i suddenly remember Pedro and Behatiiiiii
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Duterte, Xi to hold bilateral meeting on August 29In a briefing, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo says the President's China trip is until September 2. long vacay
Source: CNN Philippines - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »

China threatens sanctions on U.S. firms linked to Taiwan warplanes sale'China will take all necessary measures to safeguard our interests,' says foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang. Taena nyo! China keeps messing up with peaceful nations.
Source: rapplerdotcom - 🏆 4. / 86 Read more »

Forest fires in Brazil surge as deforestation acceleratesThe number of forest fires in Brazil surged in the first eight months of 2019, official data show, as President Jair Bolsonaro faces growing criticism over rampant destruction of the Amazon.
Source: manilabulletin - 🏆 25. / 51 Read more »