BEIJING-- China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in northeast China's Jilin Province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Friday.

Eight pigs on a local farm in the county of Changling were confirmed infected and three died, the ministry said.

The ministry said local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, 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 the northeastern Liaoning Province, and later outbreaks were reported in several other provinces. The ministry said earlier this month that the situation was generally under control.