Since the first case was detected in Hai Duong’s Binh Giang district on March 28, the Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus has spread to Tu Ky and Gia Loc districts, with more than 650 pigs infected, of which 100 have already died.

The provincial Department of Animal Health blames the recent outbreaks on unusual weather conditions, poor knowledge of farming practices, and poor vaccination campaigns. In addition, farmers still sell sick and infected pigs, paying no heed to warnings from veterinarians.

The department has supplied 6 tonnes of disinfectant to spray over affected areas. Mobile checkpoints have been established to prevent the slaughtering, trading and transport of infected pigs to and from the restricted areas. Farmers and butchers have been encouraged not to sell sick pigs.

“We have collaborated with the police and market management forces to monitor sick pigs and cull those seriously infected,” Pham Dinh Nghi, deputy head of the department. “We have disinfected farms twice a week and enhanced the dissemination of information about the disease.”

Infections have been also detected in a herd of 41 pigs in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province. Half the herd have been confirmed to carry the PRRS virus. 

In Thai Binh province, the virus has attacked 8 out of 44 communes in Dong Dung district, with more than 1,000 pigs sick or dead.  

“It takes us a lot of time to wipe out the disease completely and this requires a large budget,” says Vu Duy Viet, head of the Dong Hung District Veterinary Agency. “In addition, we face a chronic lack of veterinarians who are normally not provided with allowances to work in communes. A low rate of vaccination and lax management of trading and transporting of sick pigs are also major obstacles to preventing an epidemic.”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has instructed the Red River Delta provinces to intensify preventative measures, with a focus on quarantining sick pigs and vaccinating the others.  

“Our staff are on duty around the clock running the hotline to provide support if required,” says Van Dang Ky, a MARD veterinary expert. “The national reserve has a sufficient amount of vaccines and disinfectants to be supplied to provinces and cities. Veterinarians are asked to monitor suspected cases from door to door in localities to ensure the epidemic will not spread far and wide.”

Experts have warned that the current weather conditions are favourable for the PRRS virus to emerge and spread to other communities. Farmers have been advised to inform the nearest veterinary agency about any cases with symptoms of the blue ear disease, and not to throw infected pigs into ponds or sell their meat to local residents.