After initial reports from China of a mysterious finding of more than 900 pigs in the Huangpu river near Shanhai, the authorities now reveal that they have found traces of a pig virus in the river water.
Laboratory tests have found that PCV, or porcine Circovirus, is present in the waters where the carcasses have been found.
Although the virus is not contagious for humans it does cause death for pigs.
All other tests done in the river water have come back negative so far, including tests for other possible causes of infection and death in pigs, such as swine fever, cholera and epidemic diarrhea.
Authorities are still trying to identify the provenance of the pigs. They are combing nearby farms to see if they can track its source, and expanding their search to neighboring regions.
The authorities have also admonished citizens not to dump any dead animals in the river.
Some media reports indicate that the pigs could have come from Shanghai's neighboring provinces.
Source: China daily 3.11.13
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