Severe Pig Flu in China's Liaoning Province

CHAN:
Several cases of pig flu have been reported in China's Liaoning province. Some farmers recently disclosed that all pigs have died on the three largest pig farms in the province. The residents of Liaoning Province no longer dare to eat pork from the area anymore. Here's more on this story from our China correspondents.

STORY:
Farmers say that almost every family in the town of Caohe owns several pigs, and that most of them have died because of the epidemic.

[Farmer, Liaoning Province]:
"Most of the pigs around here are dead."

[Farmer, Liaoning Province]:
"Some people sell the pigs, even though most of them have already died. This town is devastated."

One farmer claims that this pig flu is not simple "pig fever" or "blue-ear disease". Blue ear disease only attacks the immune system of a pig, but this pig flu is more complex. Some suspect it may be airborne, transported by birds and vehicles.

[Farmer, Liaoning Province]:
"Pigs catch this flu very easily. Since the virus can be transmitted by air, it can spread up to 2km away. This virus is complicated; it's a combination of several symptoms of different pig diseases. We named it 'unknown pig flu.'"

The farmers say that they have to give the pigs injections every day. If the condition does not improve, they quickly sell the pigs to curb their losses. But if people eat the meat from these pigs, it may be hazardous to their health.

[Farmer, Caohe Town, Liaoning Province]:
"We never eat pork from here; nobody dares to. We give the pigs lots of injections for their sickness, then sell them outside of town. The injections are only for animals and we give very strong doses. If people eat pork from these pigs, the drugs could do damage to the human body, possibly very bad damage."

Farmers say they spent a lot of money to purchase the pigs. Many borrowed money from banks at high interest rates. Government compensation is meager and farmers cannot afford the losses, so they still sell the pigs even if they are very sick.

According to information from the local Animal Disease Infection Control Department, if pigs are identified as having "blue ear" disease, the local government is supposed to provide compensation. If it is cross-infection that cannot be