China's chief veterinary officer said on Thursday blue ear pig disease, which caused pork shortage and fuelled price hikes in recent months, still lingers in 14 Chinese counties, citing reports filed since late August.

Jia Youling, China's chief veterinary officer, said at a press conference the Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up measures to bring the epidemic under control.

Known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, the disease has cut the supply of live pig and triggered pork price hikes. Price hikes of pork and the ensuing hikes of other food products have pushed the country's consumer price index to 6.5 percent in August.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2007)