China's domestically developed vaccine against African swine fever has passed through environmental release tests, and clinical trials of the vaccine will soon be expanded, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Aug. 18.

The vaccine, developed by Harbin Veterinary Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was delivered to fattening piglets and sows at 10 to 100 times the proposed immunization dose, according to Bu Zhigao, director of the institute.

Bu said that during the 20-week observation period, the vaccinated pigs showed no clinical abnormalities and no pathological changes; they also showed no signs of viral transmission.

Since April, clinical trials of the vaccine have been carried out on 3,000 pigs in three breeding bases in Heilongjiang province, Henan province, and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to Tang Huajun, president of the CAAS.

Tang said that so far, vaccinated piglets have grown normally and developed with no obvious adverse effects, with the immunization rates of the vaccination groups of varying doses all surpassing 80%.

The CAAS said it would accelerate productive tests and studies of the vaccine, expand clinical trials to finish related tests as soon as possible and start the application for safety approvals and vaccine registration in accordance with legal procedures.

(You can also read it at:http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-08/25/content_76635010.htm）