(Photo: AP)

BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has confirmed one new case of African swine fever in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Monday.

In Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia, as of September 16, 22 pigs had been confirmed infected and eight of them died, the ministry said.

Local authorities have initiated an emergency response mechanism to cull and disinfect the affected pigs.

The outbreak is now under control, said the ministry.

African swine fever is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects pigs. It does not affect humans or other animal species.

China reported its first case of the disease in August in northeastern Liaoning Province, and later outbreaks were reported in several other provinces.