Fake vaccines blamed for killing 800 rabbits on farm in China
Farmer bought heavily discounted drugs for 300 yuan, causing him 100 times more than that amount in economic losses
PUBLISHED : Friday, 25 March, 2016, 5:50pm
UPDATED : Friday, 25 March, 2016, 5:52pm
Catherine Wong
More than 800 rabbits have died on a farm in central China after they received vaccines bought from an illegal vendor, local media reports.
The farmer, surnamed Li, bought 10 boxes of vaccine for 300 yuan (HK$360) in Luoyang, Henan province on December 22 from a salesman who claimed to work for a local animal vaccine producer, the Dahe Daily reported on Friday.
The salesman offered to sell Li the vaccines for 30 yuan (HK$36) per box – 20 yuan cheaper than similar vaccines from other brands.
However, his rabbits started dying in January. By the end of February, more that 800 of this 1,000 animals died within 21/2 months of being vaccinated, causing him 30,000 yuan in economic losses.
Couple arrested for selling fake vaccines
Zoologists at a local veterinary society confirmed to Li that the rabbits died of viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the expired vaccine.
Reporters contacted the manufacturer named on the vaccine package on Thursday, but the staff member said they did not produce those vaccines that Li purchased.
According to the report, Li called the salesman after the death of his rabbits, but he did not give any explanation.
When Li visited the property listed on the packaging as the company address, the woman who answered the door said it was a residential apartment and that she did not know about the company.
Li reported the case to police on Thursday.
