The Ministry of Health reported yesterday that, in the 24 hours after Monday noon, one more person died from the pig-borne disease in southwest China's Sichuan Province and eight previously undiagnosed patients were identified.

No new infections were reported for the second day running, but the number of the province's cities affected increased from nine to ten. These were known to include Ziyang, Jianyang, Neijiang and the provincial capital Chengdu, but others remained undisclosed.

Sichuan's death toll from the Streptococcus suis II outbreak now stands at 37, with 159 people living with confirmed infections and 46 suspected.

Guangzhou Industry and Commerce Bureau told China Daily yesterday that eight tons of pork from affected cities had escaped impoundment and entered the market there, the capital of the southern province of Guangdong.

By the time 8.5 tons imported by a local company in June was discovered on July 30, only 525 kilograms was left. According to the bureau, nobody has yet been found infected from eating Sichuan pork.

"Guangzhou has impounded 209.8 tons of pork imported from Ziyang and Neijiang from July 30 to August 1," Yu Yeming, director of Guangdong Animal Epidemic Prevention Station.

Yu added that in Chao'an County, where the only human case of the disease in Guangdong has been found, no infected pigs have been reported.

The man who caught the disease, discharged from hospital last week, was believed to have contracted it through a wound on his hand while slaughtering pigs, but experts have failed to find any infected pigs in the area where he had been working.

Authorities in Beijing impounded at least 4,000 tons of pork from areas affected by the outbreak.

The Ministry of Agriculture released a statement on Tuesday saying experts and officials from several State Council departments, including the ministries of health, agriculture and commerce, will share information and work together on disease control.

Also yesterday, the WHO produced a fact sheet on Streptococcus suis that said there should be strict controls on animal movements and slaughtering and that those most at risk should be made aware of the disease and how to prevent infection.

It advised that people with open wounds should wear gloves when handling uncooked pork, those who prepare pork should wash their hands and utensils thoroughly before and after, and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, or until the juices run clear.

(China Daily August 3, 2005)