BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever in Nyingchi City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

On local farms in Bayi District, Gongbo'gyamda County and Bome County, 55 pigs were confirmed dead, the ministry said, citing a China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center report.

A team was dispatched to the region, and local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, cull and disinfect affected pigs.

Transport of all pigs and related products out of or into the blockade zone is forbidden, the ministry added.

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 the northeast province of Liaoning in August last year. Later outbreaks were reported in several other provincial regions.