Although the Nanhe River is not a source of drinking water for local residents, this does come just a few days after thousands of dead pigs were found dumped in a Shanghai waterway.

 

　　Zhang Mingzhe, the director of Pengshan County's flood control office, says the duck carcasses have now been disposed off safely and that there's no threat to humans or livestock along the river.

 

　　"We have arranged personnel to fish out dead ducks at the site immediately according to our emergency measures to make a comprehensive cleanup. After that, we disposed of the dead ducks with harmless treatment under the guidance of the livestock bureau and relevant technology requirements."

 

　　Investigations are now looking in to what killed the ducks in the first place.

 

　　Li Hongji, from Pengshan County's livestock bureau though, says the possibility of infectious disease has been ruled out for now.

 

　　Li Hongji, deputy director of livestock bureau in Pengshan County:

 

　　"The reason for the dead ducks could come from feeding stuff or the weather. Infectious disease has been initially excluded as there has been no massive disease spread in our area or even in Sichuan province since this year."

 

　　This latest incident of dumping dead carcasses in water bodies adds to the large-scale dumpings which have already set off a wave of public outrage over food safety.