China lifts blockade for swine fever in eastern city

BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday removed restrictions on an eastern city where an African swine fever outbreak occurred in August.

Laboratory tests and on-site assessment by local authorities showed the epidemic has been eliminated in Yueqing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement.

No new case was found during the past six weeks, as immediate actions were taken to block, cull and disinfect the affected pigs after the outbreak.

The ministry demanded local governments step up monitoring and take active measures to prevent recurrence of the disease.