(Photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- China reported a new case of African swine fever in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

The disease was detected in 48 pigs transported to Bobai county, Yulin city, nine of which were already dead in two vehicles that were intercepted on an expressway near Bobai, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The ministry asked local authorities to take immediate measures in response, including culling the pigs and disinfecting the two vehicles used to transport the pigs and part of the expressway.

African swine fever is believed to infect only pigs, and no humans or other species have thus far been infected.

China reported its first case of the disease in August 2018 in the northeastern province of Liaoning. Later outbreaks were reported in other provincial regions.