As Lunar New Year approaches, the demand for pork reaches its peak in China, as it is to be the component of several traditional dishes. While usually a time for celebrating the new year, there is a significant amount of unrest and economic loss due to the African Swine Fever virus, a DNA virus that causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs with high rates of mortality. Around the time of the first major outbreak in 2018, "China’s sow herd declined by about 40 percent after the deadly disease, African swine fever killed millions of pigs and prevented many farmers from restocking farms". In an attempt to bolster the declining supply of pork meat, farmers have recently increased the number of pigs being bred. While this is narrowly restoring the rather decimated supply, allowing for more Chinese citizens to purchase pork for the holiday, this increase in supply further hinders the chance at a more speedy recovery. While fewer outbreaks have been recorded in more recent times, the chance of other major outbreaks occurring is still a worry with the now increased number of pigs. In addition to the risk of fresh outbreaks, the decline and subsequent increase of pigs have made pork significantly more expensive, China experiencing a 110.2% increase in price for the meat. In order to combat these prices and the challenges and risks in breeding and maintaining pigs, the government has encouraged the increased production of other meats, most notably chicken, to help with the shortages of pork.
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