Editor’s note: Friday Follow-up is our brand new weekly follow-up of new developments related to major stories in China we reported on recently.

This week, we fill you in on the latest news about the Shanghai dead pig scandal and the feared connection with bird flu (and other worrying revelations), ridiculous doublespeak in action regarding gas price increases, deadly manholes and the latest development in the “official impersonator” case.

1) Dead pigs and bird flu: a connection?
The dead pig scandal is still hot in the news, but not because another trazillion pigs have been pulled out of the Huangpu River. No, this time it’s due to a scare regarding a possible connection between the pig deaths and a new case of deadly bird flu.

Seven people have contracted a new strain of H7N9 bird flu since February (and counting), leading to two deaths so far—one of which was in Shanghai.  To calm the nervous public, the Shanghai Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center tested 34 samples of pig carcasses pulled from the Huangpu River on April 1, reportedly finding no trace of bird flu viruses.

In another stomach-wrenching revelation, a farmer in the Shanghai area was recently quoted as saying, “You Shanghai residents just don’t realize how many dead pigs you’ve eaten before”, according to a report by Xinhua. Apparently, farmers have been supplying the city’s markets with meat from pigs that died of disease for years now, all because they didn’t want to pay for their proper disposal. Tempted to convert to vegetarianism yet?

A number of media outlets have also been reporting that dead animals are the least grotesque ex-living things to be pulled out of China’s rivers: apparently some 100 human corpses washed up on the banks of the Yellow River every year.

2) “Gas prices are not increasing” – well, actually they are
Last week, we reported about the herds of budget-conscious Chinese consumers who were flocking to gas service centers across the country to bulk-buy gas supplies before a rumoured price hike.

However, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) adamantly refuted the rumors, stating that the country “wasn’t about to increase gas prices overnight without first holding hearings across the country”. But low and behold, gas prices in Changchun have indeed literally risen overnight since April 1 (and no hearings took place), understandably sparking outrage and anger among the public.

To stir even more salt in the wounds, the NDRC is now claiming that the Changchun price rise is a separate case and doesn’t contradict their previous claim that prices will not rise – judging from comments on social media sites like Weibo, netizens are not being fooled by this type of Orwellian double-speak.

3) Death by manhole sparks appeal for better drainage
The tragic death of a 21 year old girl in Changsha, who fell down a manhole during a spell of torrential rain and was never found, hit a nerve with the nation. Debate ignited regarding the quality of manhole lids and how such tragedies can be prevented in the future. Recently, Chinese authorities have pledged to step up measures to ensure safer drainage systems and all cities are required to finish compiling their plans for improving drainage by 2014. Let’s hope no-else falls down a manhole in the meantime.

4) Government official impersonator detained
On March 25, we posted a translated article about two men, Zhao Xiyong and Ge Shoujiang, who were recently exposed for impersonating high-level party members at various official events across the country. At the time, neither had been caught. However, according to the latest reports, Zhao Xiyong – who pretended to be Head of the State Council Research Office – has since been found and detained.

According to an interview with his wife, Yong’s behavior was not intended to inflict harm or extort money, but was merely a way for him to realize his ideals. There’s no word yet on the severity of his punishment.
 

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