【821-822】美国、加拿大、墨西哥致力于从北美预防猪瘟&飞机需要更好的冲突地区信息

AS IT IS

US, Canada, Mexico Work to Keep Swine Fever from North America

February 23, 2019

Members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) undergo a quarantine operation at a hog farm after an outbreak of swine fever was detected, in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo February 6, 2019. (Kyodo via REUTERS)

The United States is working with Canada and Mexico to guard against African swine fever. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says all three countries are trying to keep swine fever from reaching North America.

The highly infectious disease has already affected hog populations in China and parts of Europe.

African swine fever can kill hogs in just two days. China, home to the world’s largest hog population, has reported more than 100 cases of swine fever since last August. Efforts to contain the disease have affected Chinese supplies of pork, the meat from the animal.

Swine fever has spread to China’s neighbor, Vietnam. Cases have been reported in Eastern Europe, and Belgium found the virus in a wild boar.

If it were to reach the United States, swine fever could affect shipments in the $6.5 billion export market for American pork. The U.S. agriculture industry is already feeling the effect of trade disputes with China and Mexico.

Perdue spoke at the Department of Agriculture’s yearly Agricultural Outlook Forum on February 21. Also attending were Canada’s agriculture minister and the Mexican secretary of agriculture.

Perdue said “Sharing the long borders that we do both on the north and south, it’s important that we function together as one.” All the things that go on in the world today will only increase the likelihood of things moving from one nation to another, he added.

African swine fever

The Reuters news agency reports that Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork producer, has increased safety measures at its U.S. farms. In addition, U.S. hog farmers are leaving animal-feed ingredients imported from China in storage in an attempt to keep the disease out.

Since 2013, Smithfield has been a division of WH Group, a Chinese company.

African swine fever was first identified in East Africa in the early 1900s. The disease can spread in many ways, including direct contact between animals, through food and by people infected with the virus. While not harmful to human beings, there is no vaccine for swine fever.

News of the spread of the disease in Asia has affected agricultural markets, as traders consider the possibility of an increase in U.S. pork exports to China.

Robert Johansson is the chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He said chances for increasing pork exports to Asia because of hogs dying from the disease may be overstated.

Johansson predicted that plentiful supply in the United States would push hog prices down 7.5 percent in 2019.

I’m George Grow.

Julie Ingwersen reported this story for the Reuters news agency. George Grow adapted his report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

function – v. to perform; to work or operate

ingredient – n. a material used with other substances to make something

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AS IT IS

Airplanes Need Better Information over Conflict Areas

February 23, 2019

FILE - A Malaysian air crash investigator inspects the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, Ukraine, July 22, 2014. (REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev/File Photo)

More than four years after a Malaysian passenger plane was shot down in eastern Ukraine, airlines still need better information to fly safely over conflict areas.

The Dutch Safety Board made the comment in a report about the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014.

The report said a missile launched from territory controlled by pro-Russian rebels shot downed the airplane. All 298 people inside were killed. Plane parts were spread widely across fields in Ukraine.

An international criminal investigation is continuing to seek and try those accused in the attack. The Netherlands and Australia have said they hold Russia responsible for supplying the missile to the rebels.

Tjibbe Joustra is the safety board’s chairman. He said progress has been made since the downing of flight MH17.

Joustra said nations and international organizations such as the European Commission are working together better to improve intelligence sharing.

The report said, “Airlines are taking a more structured approach to analyzing the risks and uncertainties....”

But it also said more needs to be done.

The board statement said few nations dealing with conflicts had made changes to how they administer their airspace. It also said that airlines require more detailed and complex information to correctly judge risks.

Joustra said he saw little action on a proposal by the board to close airspaces or to restrict parts of the skies above conflict areas. He said national interests could be preventing such safety actions.

“If you close your airspace, it is a very public admission that you are no longer in charge of your own territory or skies,” Joustra said.

I’m Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

approach – n. a way of dealing with something : a way of doing or thinking about something

analyze – v. to study (something) closely and carefully: to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by a close and careful examination

uncertainty – n. something that is doubtful or unknown

【目录2】As It Is-----------

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【383】Why Some Americans Keep Talking About Chicago 1968

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