Urgent measures ordered as African Swine Fever spreads nationwide
VOV.VN - The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested that provinces and cities urgently implement disease control measures to preventing the further spread and prolongation of African Swine Fever (ASF) that is resurging across the country, severely impacting the livestock sector and food safety.
Since the beginning of the year, over 970 ASF outbreaks have been reported across more than 710 communes and wards nationwide, representing more than 21% of all communes. The total number of pigs that have died or have been culled due to the disease has now exceeded 100,000.
Currently, more than 540 communes and wards in 30 out of 34 provinces and cities have not passed the 21-day threshold since the outbreak began, the Ministry reported.
The disease is showing increasingly complex, widespread, and escalating developments, driven largely by the illegal sale and slaughter of sick pigs, unregulated consumption, and the improper disposal of pig carcasses into the environment. These practices are having severe consequences for the pig farming industry, food supply chains, ecological sustainability, and the overall socio-economic development and food safety of the country.
In response, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued a document to the Standing Committees of provincial and municipal Party Committees, urging the urgent and forceful implementation of emergency measures to contain and eradicate the ASF outbreak.
Local administrations are now required to promptly allocate resources, enhance veterinary infrastructure, and effectively implement the National Plan for Epidemic Prevention and Control for the 2020 - 2025 period.
Special attention must be given to grassroots level veterinary teams, ensuring that they are adequately staffed and are fully equipped to monitor, detect, and respond to relevant outbreaks in a timely manner.
Provinces have already begun taking strong action in response to the outbreak. Ninh Binh has issued strict bans on concealing outbreaks and illegally disposing of pig carcasses, while Hung Yen recently culled over 12 tonnes of infected pigs.
In addition to technical measures such as vaccination and disinfection, local authorities are directed to step up communication campaigns, strengthen inspections and enforcement of regulations, and prepare for the recovery and stabilisation of pig farming in the post-outbreak period.
Government chief orders urgent measures to combat African swine fever
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Directive No.109, calling for urgent and coordinated measures to prevent and control African swine fever (ASF) nationwide.
