The new African Swine Fever Manual published

Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 4 November 2019 – The African Swine Fever Manual, compiled by several veterinary experts, and initiated by the world’s leading animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim, was officially published by China Agriculture Press. At the launch ceremony, Boehringer Ingelheim China donated 500 copies of the new manual to Jiangsu Provincial Animal Disease Control Center, Hunan Provincial Animal Disease Control Center, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County under Chengde City, Hebei Province, as well as local pig farmers.

A handbook with expert insights

The outbreaks of African swine fever in China have seriously affected the Chinese pig farming industry. A severe viral infection affecting pigs, African swine fever can cause serious clinical diseases and an extremely high mortality rate in pigs. The disease does not infect humans. As there is no known treatment or effective vaccine available for this disease at this time, an effective biosecurity protocol is currently the most effective tool in the prevention and control of African swine fever.

“The African Swine Fever Manual used to be a technical handbook about the disease. Following the China’s  African swine fever outbreak in August 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim began to work with experts to review relevant publications and research papers and with the help of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association, it turned the handbook into the new extended manual,” said Xu Hui, publisher of the journal branch with China Agriculture Press. “The manual has been distributed for free to many veterinary technicians and pig farmers, contributing to preventing and curbing the spread of African swine fever in China.” According to Xu, the writers revised the original handbook by significantly expanding its content, based on further research and proven practices in the prevention and control of African swine fever. The new manual is now officially published by the national publishing house, China Agriculture Press, and covers etiology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, immune mechanism and diagnostics of African swine fever, as well as some relevant national regulations. It focuses on biosecurity and control protocol, as well as successful approaches and experience in controlling and preventing African swine fever in foreign counties. The manual also provides comprehensive knowledge and guidance with regard to repopulating pigs in farms.

Huang Lv, Director of Swine Professional Veterinary Services, Boehringer Ingelheim China, is the chief editor of the manual, and Yang Longbo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association, is deputy chief editor. The editorial committee has more than a dozen members, all experts from Boehringer Ingelheim and the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association.

“Globally, there is no effective vaccine available to prevent African swine fever, so an effective biosecurity protocol is the only tool to reduce the transmission and spread of the disease,” said Huang Lv, adding that Boehringer Ingelheim is always committed to the philosophy of ‘Prevention Works’. “We hope to work with leading Chinese veterinarians and partners in the industry to exchange our experience and jointly explore solid prevention and control measures to help pig farms minimize the introduction of African swine fever to the farm and therefore contribute to the recovery and stabilization of pig production,” Huang concluded.

500 copies donated to industry partners

At the launch ceremony of the new book, Christopher Beard, Head of Swine Business, Boehringer Ingelheim China, donated 500 copies of the new manual on behalf of the company to Jiangsu Provincial Animal Disease Control Center, Hunan Provincial Animal Disease Control Center, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County under Chengde City, Hebei Province, as well as local pig farmers. The company will also donate the manual to other relevant institutions in the future.

More information about African swine fever is available here.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit

Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of almost 4 billion euros in 2018 and presence in more than 150 markets.

Across the globe, our 10,000 employees create the future of animal wellbeing through their daily work. We believe in prevention over treatment and therefore, we focus on developing innovative solutions in the field of vaccines, parasiticides and therapeutics. With a large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products, tools and services, we support our customers in taking care of the health of their animals.

For more information visit: www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/overview.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Improving the health of humans and animals is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.

Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 17.5 billion euros. R&D expenditure of almost 3.2 billion euros, corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales.

As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: https://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

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