U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have seized about 1 million pounds of pork imported from China amid concerns it could contain the African swine flu disease.

Authorities seized the supplies over the last week in New York after the disease was found to have infected some Chinese pork products.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The seizure was in an effort to battle the spread of African swine fever,” U. S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Anthony Bucci told Reuters.

Bucci declined to say whether the pork that had been seized contained swine flu, citing an "ongoing investigation" into the matter. He added that federal agents are working with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the issue.

CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

China houses the world’s largest hog population. The country has reported 112 outbreaks of swine flu in 28 provinces and regions since August, according to Reuters, with most cases being found on farms. One case was reported at a slaughterhouse, the outlet reported.

The disease can kill hogs in as little as two days, Reuters reported.

About 1 million pigs have been euthanized to curb the spread of the disease, leading hog prices to hit a 14-month high this week, according to the outlet.

The USDA said it intends to deploy more dogs to detect illegal pork products at airports and harbors to prevent the swine flu from spreading to the U.S.